Biological Fathers Must Support Kids Born Out Of Wedlock, Rape: LHC

1 min read

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that biological fathers are financially responsible for children born out of wedlock or as a result of rape, provided their paternity is established.

Justice Ahmad Nadeem Arshad issued a 15-page detailed verdict on a petition, filed by Muhammad Afzal, directing the trial court to reassess the maintenance case of a five-year-old girl in the light of new evidence.

The court observed that if the mother proves the petitioner’s biological paternity, the trial court must determine child support accordingly. All parties concerned have been ordered to appear before the trial court.

Justice Arshad remarked that justice and equality demand that if biological paternity is proven, the father must bear financial responsibility. He also underscored the moral duty of fathers to take responsibility for their children. The case record shows that in 2020, the petitioner was accused of raping a woman, leading to a criminal case against him. The woman later gave birth to a daughter and filed a claim for child support. The petitioner denied paternity and sought dismissal of the claim. The trial court ruled in the mother’s favour, ordering the petitioner to pay Rs3,000 per month in child support.

However, the petitioner challenged the verdict in the LHC, arguing that Islamic law distinguishes between children born within and outside marriage. Acknowledging this distinction, the court clarified that proving paternity is the mother’s responsibility and that child support should only be determined after verifying the child’s legal biological status. The case has been sent back to the trial court for a fresh decision based on these legal principles.

Published in News Daily on 18-March-2025.

Previous Story

Minor Boy Sexually Assaulted

Latest from Blog

Minor Boy Sexually Assaulted

CHAK JHUMRA: A seven-year-old boy was allegedly subjected to sexual assault. According to the complaint filed by the mother of the victim, her son from her late husband was assaulted when her husband was away at work while she had stepped out for some errands. She said Ali Raza, a…

Sale Of Toy Guns Crackers Banned

PESHAWAR. District administration of Peshawar has imposed Section 144, banning sale and purchase of toy guns and fire crackers . The administration has warned that the strict action would be taken against those violating the ban. The decision has been taken due to the law and order situation in the…

Education: A Ruthless Enterprise

A glaring injustice of this sector is the persistent and disproportionate increase in tuition fees. Education, the cornerstone of progress and national prosperity, is an inherent right of every individual. However, the private education sector has transformed into a ruthless commercial enterprise, prioritising financial gains over intellectual nourishment. Often referred…

Educating Inmate’s Children

Studies show that children with a parent in prison are often at greater risk of discrimination. The judicial system of Pakistan leaves behind a sorry trail of distress for families of convicts, including financial strain, emotional turmoil and increased hardships for children. With little to no social or governmental support…

10m Children Out Of School In Punjab

LAHORE: Around 10 million children in Punjab are out of school, a fact sheet issued by a nonprofit organisation has revealed, urging the provincial government to create educational opportunities for them. The report released by Population Council cited shortage of facilities, infrastructure, inflation and unemployment as the major reasons of…
Go toTop