Stereo. H C J D A 38.

JUDGMENT SHEET
IN THE LAHORE HIGHT COURT,
BAHAWALPUR BENCH, BAHAWALPUR

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT
W.P No.5899 of 2020

(Muhammad Fayyaz, etc. Vs. Addl. District Judge, etc.)

JUDGMENT
Date of Hearing. 21.09.2021.
Petitioners by: Mr. Muhammad Naeem Bhatti, Advocate.
Respondent by: Rao Muhammad Ashraf Idrees and Dr.
Malik M. Hafeez, Advocates.
Assistance Rendered by: Muhammad Javed Khan and Miss Mehwish
Mahmood, Research Officers.

Anwaarul Haq Pannun, J. Through the instant writ petition, the

petitioners have called in question the vires of the judgment and decree
dated 19.11.2019, passed by learned Judge Family Court, Hasilpur,
decreeing the suit of respondent No.3 for recovery of dower and judgment
and decree dated 27.08.2020, passed by learned Addl. District Judge,
Hasilpur, whereby their appeal was dismissed.
2. The facts of the case in brief are that respondent No.3 claimed her
deferred dower i.e. Rs.1,00,500/- and possession of land measuring 04
Kanals or its alternate price Rs.10,00,000/- by filing a suit against her father-
in-law, the late Rahim Bux (died on 28.9.2017 during the pendency of the
suit) with the averments that she was married to one Muhammad Shehzad
Khan on 13.05.2005 in consideration with aforesaid dower, duly
incorporated in the Nikahnama, while the late Rahim Bux acted as a Wakeel
of her late husband, and thus is liable to pay the outstanding dower. Since,
after the death of her husband, she is entitled to recover the dower from her
father-in-law, who being signatory of the nikahnama and Wakeel of his son,
is bound to pay the same. After the death of Rahim Bux, the petitioners
substituted in the matter as his legal heirs. They have resisted the suit on
legal as well as factual planks while denying the averments of the plaint.
After a thorough trial, learned Judge Family Court decreed the suit of
W.P No.5899 of 2020 2

respondent No.3 vide its judgment and decree dated 19.11.2019, in the
following terms:-
“The plaintiff towards dower is entitled to receive Rs.500/- and
04-K from the property of original defendant (Rahim Bux
deceased) in Mouza Awal Khan, Tehsil Khairpur Tamewali or
in alternative its market value prevailing on the date of death of
plaintiff’s husband Muhammad Shahzad Khan (05.12.2015),
mode and value to be determined by the learned executing court
during execution, from the defendants (legal heirs of original
defendant) as per their proportionate share in the inheritance of
original defendant. No order as to costs.”

Being dissatisfied with the aforesaid judgment and decree, the petitioners
preferred an appeal, which was dismissed by learned Addl. District Judge,
Hasilpur, vide its judgment and decree dated 27.08.2020. Hence, this writ
petition.
3. Arguments heard and record perused.
4. The main thrust of argument of learned counsel for the petitioners is
that as husband of respondent No.3 died on 05.12.2012, she filed the suit on
02.05.2017 i.e. after lapse of more than 04 years and 05 months which ought
to have been brought within a period of three years after the death of her
husband, therefore, suit of respondent No.3 was badly time barred. They
produced photocopy of Death Certificate of the deceased Muhammad
Shehzad Khan (Mark-A) to substantiate their claim. On the other hand,
learned counsel for respondent No.3 contended that since her husband died
about 1 ½ years prior to the institution of the suit, hence the suit is well
within time and to fortify her claim, she also produced Death Certificate
(Exh.P-2). Exh.P-2 is certified copy while Mark-A is photocopy of Death
Certificate of the deceased husband. Exh.P-2 being a public document
enjoys presumption of truth qua its entries. Muhammad Imran, Secretary
Union council Inayati, Teshil Khairpur Tamewali (DW-1) brought the
original death record register and according to him, Exh.D-1 is correct copy
as per record, the particulars of Exh:P-2 and Exh.D-1 are the same and entry
is available at Serial No.18 of the register. As per Death Certificate (Exh.P-
2), Muhammad Shehzad Khan, husband of respondent No.3 and brother of
the petitioners died on 05.12.2015. Neither the petitioners produced
certified copy of Death Certificate Mark-A nor they got summoned the
original record of said document, as such, said document has no evidentiary
W.P No.5899 of 2020 3

value and is inadmissible, thus discarded. Hence, in view of the above, the
suit of respondent No.3 is well within time.
5. The next argument of learned counsel for the petitioners is that the
suit for recovery of dower against father of the husband (father-in-law) being
incompetent, is not maintainable, However, suffice it is to say that the suit
for recovery of dower can validly be filed against father-in-law. Under
Islamic law, nikah is a civil contract which binds the parties. Such contract
can be made/solemnized through agent/wakeel. According to legal and
Arabic dictionary the word wakil/vakil mean & define as under:
The law of Lexicon with Legal Maxims and Words and
phrases reprint Edition 1996 at page 1329: -

WAKIL: A person invested with authority to act for another.

Urdu English LAW DICTIONARY Edition 2000 published

Irfan law Book house page 515:

VAKIL: A plenipotentiary; a representative with absolute authority

(Page 1104)

As per Shariah, Nikah of female/parties can be solemnized through their

Wakeel and all the Islamic Schools of thought recognized Nikah performed
through Wakeel as valid. Maulana Mujeebullah Nadvi at page 644,
Volume II of his Book "Islami Fiqha" defined the meaning of '
Wakalat' in the following words: --
W.P No.5899 of 2020 4

At page 646 of the said Book the author observed as under: -

The term “Wakalat” has further been explained at page 648 of the said Book
in the following words: --

In 'Urdu Daaira Maarif Islamia' at page 21, Volume 23, published

by Danish Gah Punjab the word 'Wakalat' has been defined as
under: --

6. The word wakeel is synonymous to English word agent. The agency

may be created expressly i.e. in writing or through implications. Even it can
be inferred from the circumstances of the case, the thing spoken or written or
on the basis of ordinarily course of dealings. By creating agency, the
principal confers certain authorities to agent and agent owes certain
liabilities in exchange towards Principal. Agency remains intact unless
rescinded or some act of agent renders him incapable of continuing his
W.P No.5899 of 2020 5

authority. Normally agent is not held responsible for enforcement of contract

entered by him on behalf of the Principal. However, Islamic law clearly a
departure to the general rule in case pertaining to the marriage has made,
particularly, where father had acted as a wakeel of his son/bridegroom. In
absence of tangibly expressed repudiation of such authority the agent/wakeel
cannot get rid off the liabilities imposed upon him being wakeel/father of
bridegroom. The term 'Wakeel' has not been defined in the Muslim Family
Laws Ordinance, 1961. However, Wakeel is an attorney legally competent to
conduct marriage on behalf of bride. The Wakeel generally is representative
of the party appointing/nominating him. Registration of Nikah is mandatory
under the Muslim family laws.
7. In the present case, respondent No.3 and Muhammad Shehzad Khan,
deceased in lieu of dower Rs.1,00,500/- and four kanals land, situated at
Mauza Awal Khan, 538/6, 23/6, Tehsil Khairpur Tamewali or its alternate
price Rs.10,00,000/-, were tied in their nuptial bond on 13.05.2005, as
mentioned in the Nikahnama (Exh.P-1). The late Rahim Bux (father-in-law
of respondent No.3) was party to the Nikahnama and his name is clearly
mentioned in Column No.9 as “Wakeel of the bridegroom”. The Nikahnama
also bears his thumb impression. There is no denial that it is primarily duty
and obligation of the husband to pay dower to his wife, yet there is no bar or
prohibition on another person to bind himself as a surety by way of putting
his signature on the Nikah Nama, ensuring its payment and such surety
cannot wriggle out from such legal obligation when a suit for the recovery of
dower is brought against him by the wife, hence, there is no escape by
father-in-law to wriggle out of his liability if being “Wakeel” of bridegroom,
he had signed the prescribed column of nikahnama at the time of marriage.
Reliance is placed upon case reported as “Gul Akbar and another Vs.
Jameela Afridi and 4 others” (PLD 2016 Peshawar 109). Reliance may
also be placed upon case reported as “Muhammad Anwar Khan Vs. Sabia
Khanam and another” (PLD 2010 Lahore 119), wherein, it has been held
that:-
“Husband as a rule, could not give as dower property
that did not belong to him but belonged to someone else
including his father---Exception to this rule could be
found if it was shown that the father of the husband
agreed to do so---in spite of having knowledge that his
W.P No.5899 of 2020 6

house had been given as dower in nikahnama, the father

of the husband never took any step to take any legal
action for exclusion of the house from nikahnama---
House mentioned in the nikahnama as dower even
though, it did not belong to the husband was liable to be
transferred to the plaintiff as the father of the husband
had given his consent for the same.
The august supreme Court of Pakistan in case reported as “Mst. Faqraz Bibi
Vs. Elahi Bakhsh and 2 others”(1994 SCMR 686) has pleased to observe
that
“Petitioner’s claim of ownership to house in question
was based on entry in “Nikahnama” on strength of which
she claimed that the house was given to her in lieu of
dower at the time of marriage--- Petitioner claimed that
she had been exercising proprietary rights over the house
in question, without let or hindrance by respondents and
that both respondents (her husband and his father) had
signed “Nikahnama” of petitioner in token of
confirmation of stipulation contained in “Nikahnama”---
Contention raised by petitioner required examination---
Leave to appeal was granted in circumstances.”
Family Court under Section 5 of the West Pakistan Family Court Act, 1964
had exclusive jurisdiction to entertain, hear and adjudicate upon matters
specified in Part I of the Schedule to the said Act and there was no barring
provision that while claiming dower from the husband only bridegroom/
husband could be impleaded in the suit for recovery of dower and none else-
-If another person had stood surety or had guaranteed the payment of dower,
he/she could lawfully be impleaded in the suit---Surety and guarantor to the
dower were as much party and liable to pay dower as the bridegroom
himself. It has been held in the case reported as “Khan Asadullah Khan and
others Vs. Sheikh Islamud Din” (PLD 1978 Lahore 711) that:-
10. “As regards the second question, Mulla in Principles of
Mohammadan Law reproduces the definition of dower as “a
sum of money or other property which the wife is entitled to
receive from the husband in consideration of the marriage” It
has further been observed “if the dower is not paid, the wife,
and after her death, her heirs, may sue for it” In Baillie’s
Digest of Mohammadan Law on the subject of disputes with
regard to dower the following observations occur:-
“Disputes regarding the dower may take place between
the married parties themselves in their lifetime, or
between their heirs when both are dead, or after the
death of one of them, between his or her heirs and the
survivors.”
 W.P No.5899 of 2020 7

11. In the Mohammadan Law of Inheritance by Almaric

Russay on the subject of posthumous claims of dower it has
been observed:-
“It has been seen already that the right to dower is not
extinguished by the death of husband or wife or both and
it is in fact distinctly laid down that a claim of dower may
be maintained by the wife against the husband’s
inheritors, by the wife’s inheritors against the husband,
or by the wife’s inheritors against the husband’s
inheritors.”
12. It is clear, therefore, that the right to sue survives the
death and the heirs can continue the proceedings and their
claim in the proceedings continues to be for the dower.
8. For what has been discussed above, the suit filed by respondent No.3
for recovery of dower against her father-in-law, who had acted as a
“Wakeel” of the bridegroom and had signed it, is held to be competent. The
learned trial court after appraisal of the material available on record has
rightly passed the impugned judgment and decree. The findings and
observations of learned trial court have been maintained and upheld by the
learned appellate court after reappraisal of the evidence available on record.
The learned counsel for the petitioners has been unable to point out any
illegality or irregularity in the impugned Judgments, which are well founded
and based on well reasoning. Resultantly, the instant writ petition having no
substance, is dismissed.
9. I also duly appreciate the assistance rendered by the Research Officers
of this Bench to deal with the issue discussed and dealt with hereinabove.

(Anwaarul Haq Pannun)

Judge
APPROVED FOR REPORTING

JUDGE
*Siddique*