Karachi (HRNW)– The Sindh High Court has approved a petition seeking an increase in child maintenance, ruling that a father living abroad cannot be exempted from his financial responsibilities toward his child residing in Pakistan.
In its detailed order, the court emphasized that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child guarantees every child the right to physical and mental development as well as an adequate standard of living. The judgment noted that under Article 27(ii), both parents are responsible for ensuring these rights.
The bench further observed that under Islamic law, the responsibility for a child’s financial needs lies primarily with the father. The court also cited Muhammadan Law, which grants equal rights to children from multiple marriages, stating that all children — regardless of where they reside — must be treated fairly.
The court pointed out a clear disparity between the standard of living of the father’s children living in the UK and the child residing in Karachi. It held that the father is obligated to provide for the Karachi-based child in a manner consistent with the lifestyle he affords to his sons in the UK.
Rejecting the father’s plea to be relieved of responsibility, the Sindh High Court ordered him to pay Rs. 130,000 per month as child maintenance. Additionally, the court instructed that the father’s CNIC and passport be restored once he clears all outstanding dues from the time the petition was filed.
The petition was filed by the mother, who sought financial support for her child. According to case details, the father had contracted a second marriage in the United Kingdom, where he resides with his children from the second wife.
