The Lahore High Court has directed the immigration and passport department to allow women to retain their father’s name on their CNIC and passport, regardless of their marital status. This decision came in response to a petition filed by Mehr Bano Langrial, with the federal government supporting the declaration sought by the petitioner.
The court acknowledged the right of women to retain their father’s name on their identification documents. However, it stated that the format/details of children’s passports would remain unchanged. The court directed the department to complete the consultative process and make necessary amendments to allow women to retain their father’s name within three months.
In a separate case, a lawyer was granted bail by the LHC after being convicted of contempt charges for displaying disorderly conduct towards a judge. The lawyer challenged his conviction, stating he had apologized, but the court did not accept it.
Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2024