RAWALPINDI (Web Desk) - The Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court has declared a new family pension law null and void, ordering immediate payment of family pensions to divorced women and unmarried daughters who had been denied the benefit.
Justice Ahsan Raza Kazmi announced the reserved verdict, ruling that depriving widows, divorced women and unmarried daughters of family pensions violated Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law.
The new provincial law had restricted family pension eligibility to widows.
According to the petition, the Punjab government amended the law in 2024, depriving divorced and unmarried daughters of family pension benefits after the death of their parents.
The law was challenged by an affected woman, Ms Falak Shah, and Advocate Tanveer Sohail Shah.
The High Court ordered payment of family pensions to all women who had been deprived of the benefit under the amended law. The ruling is expected to benefit thousands of women across Punjab.