Islamabad has witnessed a sharp rise in “khula” (divorce initiated by women) cases, according to legal experts.
Lawyers attribute the increase to factors such as drug abuse and unemployment, which are contributing to growing marital disputes.
Reports said that family courts in the federal capital are now handling over 300 new cases daily. On average, 38 khula and maintenance-related cases are filed per hour.
This year, the total number of khula cases has already exceeded 45,000, with more than 9,000 new cases being registered each month.
The surge in divorce-related cases has put significant pressure on family courts, highlighting the social and economic challenges affecting marital stability in the capital.
In 2025, Rawalpindi district experienced a significant rise in divorce and domestic dispute cases, with 4,980 new family-related cases filed across its 44 family courts between January 1 and June 30, 2025.
Currently, a total of 26,980 family cases are pending in the district. Among the new filings, 1,170 were women seeking divorce (khula).
Family courts have also addressed child custody matters, returning children to their mothers in 121 cases. Additionally, 310 women received rulings in their favor regarding dowry and dower (haq mehr), and 1,069 women were granted child support while proceedings were ongoing.
In 27 instances, courts instructed estranged wives to return to their marital homes, and 320 couples were provided a one-week period to attempt reconciliation through a Jirga (traditional tribal mediation).
