The Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed women to retain their father’s name on computerised national identity card (CNIC) and passport, directing the immigration department to amend existing laws.
The court issued order on a petition filed by Mehr Bano Langrial, seeking direction for a married woman to keep her father’s name instead of husband on the identity documents. The NADRA laws already allowed married woman to keep father name on the CNIC column but in case of passport it was not permitted.
The attorney general presented before the court and said the government has no objection on the matter before the LHC. Justice Asim Hafeez was listening to case. He appreciated the government stance, linking it directly to essence of women rights. Immigration official, however, said the department is already considering the matter and it required time for final decision.
On this, Justice Hafeez gave three months to the immigration and passport office to change the laws which declare mandatory for a married woman to replace father’s name on the passport with husband. The court said the immigration office could synchronise further family details to meet the international requirements.
