Lockdown Spurred “Khula” Rate in Pakistan

The onset of the novel coronavirus pandemic and lockdown has left deep stains on the canvas of societal values with growing mental health issues stirring domestic abuse leading to a spike in Khula rate in Pakistan.

The coronavirus situation has not only affected the economic conditions but it has taken over the matters of hearts too.

As per the reports, the lockdown due to Covid-19 has increased domestic violence incidents.

It has been alleged that around 90% of Pakistani women have suffered physical abuse during the lockdown.

According to the report by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in three women in the world suffers physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

However, the situation of domestic violence becomes critical during the depressing times of pandemic.

During the extended periods of lockdown and isolation, depression and mental health issues grew and resulted in more conflicting marriages.

The tables have turned now and women in Pakistan are picking up “Khula” as an option instead of waiting for divorce from the male partner in case of a disconsolate marriage.

There used to be a school of thought in the past that advocates “a dead daughter is better than a divorced daughter”.

However, many families in Pakistan now realize that it’s better to have a divorced daughter at home than to mourn a dead one.

Islam and the state of Pakistan have given women the right to choose a lifestyle that best suits them without bearing societal pressures.

Women in Pakistan are becoming more independent and courageous. They are choosing to be audacious then being timid due to their state of affairs.

As per the reports, the number of khula cases in Pakistan jumped by over 700% during 2020.

In 2019, around 632 cases were filed by the female litigants seeking khula from their male partners, however, 2020 has seen a rapid increase of cases reaching around a figure of 5,198 filed by the women in Pakistan.

Read Also

Salma Saleem: Earning Bread on Path to Justice

The country-wide lockdown due to Covid-19 has resulted in unemployment for thousands of households that lead to depressing and distressing married life.

However, editor investigations The News, Ansar Abbasi, has maintained that lack of proper training in girls, obscenity in films and dramas, movements like “mera jism meri marzi” and other women rights’ movements have destroyed the family system in our society.

ہم تباہی کے رستے پر! 2020میں صرف سندھ میں خلع لینے کے مقدمات میں %722اضافہ ہوا۔ بے حس ریاست، تربیت وکردار سازی کا فقدان، فحش میڈیا، گھٹیا فلم، ڈرامے، اشتہار اور میرا جسم میری مرضی، برابری، آزادی حقوق نسواں کے نام پر ہمارا خاندانی نظام تباہ ہو رہا ہے لیکن۔۔ https://t.co/EQhdMCIkiB

— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) January 8, 2021

It seems like Abbasi has been turning his face away from the cruel realities of life. Many households in Pakistan are still deprived of television sets and smartphones hence no access to the claimed “obscene mediums”, however still facing discomfort in married life.

Spending months together with no financial help, lack of work but an increase in demands, and intense conflicts have led to the rise of disconsolate marriages resulting in the increase of khula rate in Pakistan.

Staying indoors together with the family during lockdown with no work pressures had been a rare opportunity to cement the relationships, however, the data shows that this opportunity resulted in more separations (Khula) in Pakistan.