The Lahore High Court has mandated that the Immigration Department revise its regulations to ensure that women can keep their father’s name on their national identity cards and passports.
The order, issued by Justice Asim Hafeez, stipulates that the Department of Immigration and Passports must amend its current rules within three months. This change comes in response to a petition filed by Meher Bano Langriyal, advocating for the right of married women to have their father’s name included on their official identification documents.
Langriyal’s petition highlighted that the existing rules often compel married women to use their husbands’ names, which can be problematic for those who prefer to retain their fathers’ names. She argued that women should have the choice to honor their paternal lineage, regardless of their marital status.
This ruling expected to have broad implications for women’s rights in Pakistan, particularly in terms of identity and personal choice. It underscores the court’s recognition of the importance of allowing women the freedom to decide how they represented on official documents.
The Immigration Department now tasked with revising its regulations to comply with the court’s directive. These amendments anticipated to implemented within the specified three-month period, providing women the option to keep their father’s name on their computerized national identity cards (CNICs) and passports.
The decision met with positive reactions from women’s rights groups and advocates who see it as a step forward in promoting gender equality and personal autonomy in Pakistan.
