A Lahore family court granted khula ending a nearly 28-year marriage. This guide explains why marriage length is no bar to khula, the procedure the case illustrates, and the money questions that follow.
A Lahore family court has granted khula ending a marriage of nearly 28 years, in a case widely reported this week. The decree, dated 29 October 2026 and reported by Dawn Images, ARY News and Dunya News, dissolved the marriage of actor Moammar Rana and his wife Mehnaz, married on 24 October 1998, who have two daughters. The case shows a point many people misunderstand: there is no time limit on khula, and a long marriage is no bar to dissolution through the Family Court.
A note on sourcing. Family Court decrees are not published on the Lahore High Court website, so no official case reference is available; the details below rest on press reporting, not an official court record. The allegations are claims in the wife's petition, as reported, not findings of fact.
What the reports say about the case
Mehnaz filed for khula on 22 June 2026, stating that she and her daughters had suffered extreme mental torment for two decades, that she had singlehandedly borne the household expenses, and that family efforts to reform her husband's behaviour had failed. The petition alleged physical and mental abuse and said he had refused treatment. Reconciliation was attempted through mediation at the ADR Centre III in Lahore; the reports say the husband appeared while the wife declined, so the matter returned to court, where Family Court Judge Zahid Bashir issued the decree in her favour after arguments by her lawyer, Khadija Siddiqui.
Why the length of the marriage does not block khula
Khula is the route by which a wife asks a court to end her marriage, unlike talaq, which is pronounced by the husband. A wife files a suit for dissolution in the Family Court, and if reconciliation fails, the court can dissolve the marriage even if the husband refuses to agree. The classic ground is that she cannot continue to live with him within the limits prescribed by Allah.
Nothing in that framework sets a maximum length of marriage or a minimum period of unhappiness. A marriage of 28 years is treated like one of two years: the court looks at whether the wife can continue the marriage, whether reconciliation is possible, and what the evidence shows. A long shared history or a public profile creates no legal obstacle, though it often complicates the financial questions. A wife may also plead a statutory ground under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, such as cruelty or failure to maintain her; the route pleaded matters for dower, since a wife who proves a statutory ground stands in a different position from one who seeks khula simpliciter, on aversion alone.
The procedure this case illustrates
1. Filing. The wife files in the Family Court where she ordinarily resides, with her CNIC, nikahnama, the husband's address for service, and details of any children.
2. Notice. The husband gets a chance to file a written statement, but he cannot block khula by staying away: if he does not appear despite proper service, the court can proceed ex parte.
3. Reconciliation. The court must attempt reconciliation before deciding the case; this mandatory step cannot be skipped by agreement. Here it took the form of ADR mediation, which failed because the wife declined to reconcile.
4. Decree. Once reconciliation has failed, the court proceeds to a decree forthwith under section 10 of the Family Courts Act, 1964, dealing with the return of dower received as part of that decree.
5. Union Council and certificate. The decree goes to the Union Council, which issues the dissolution certificate after iddat. Keep it: it is the formal record that the marriage has ended.
What happens to money after a long marriage ends
In khula, the wife generally offers to return the dower she received, and the court decides what must be returned on the facts; there is no fixed percentage for every case. Keep the claims separate: dower is the wife's own right and must not be signed away in a rushed compromise; maintenance includes maintenance during iddat; dowry articles belong to the wife and can be recovered if withheld; and child maintenance belongs to the children and cannot be given up by parental agreement. Custody, where minor children are involved, is decided separately, on the child's welfare, not by the khula decree alone.
Your practical checklist
- Decide the route before filing: khula simpliciter, or dissolution on a statutory ground under the 1939 Act, because the route affects dower.
- File where you ordinarily live, with your CNIC, nikahnama and the husband's address.
- Do not skip reconciliation: it is mandatory.
- Keep dower, iddat maintenance, dowry articles and child maintenance as separate claims; read any compromise deed line by line.
- Complete the Union Council step after the decree, observe iddat, and preserve the dissolution certificate.
- Never accept a private or verbal arrangement as a substitute for a court decree and a Union Council certificate.
Legal basis
Khula proceedings are governed principally by the Family Courts Act, 1964 (section 10 on reconciliation and decree), read with the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, and the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, which governs Union Council registration. The reported decree has no law-report citation and no official online court record, so it should not be cited as a precedent beyond what the press reports establish.
Frequently asked questions
Can a wife seek khula after decades of marriage?
Yes. There is no time limit on khula; the court examines whether the wife can continue the marriage and whether reconciliation is possible.
Can a husband block khula by refusing mediation or reconciliation?
No. Reconciliation is mandatory, but it requires willingness on both sides. If it fails, the court can pass a decree, and a husband who stays away despite proper service cannot block the case.
Does a wife always have to return her haq mehr in khula?
Generally she offers to return the dower received, and the court decides what must be returned on the facts. There is no universal fixed percentage, and the position differs if she proves a statutory ground for dissolution.
Is the court decree the end of the process?
No. After the decree, the Union Council issues the certificate of dissolution after the iddat period. Keep that certificate: it is the formal record that the marriage has ended.
Related guides
- How to Get Khula in Pakistan: Family Court Guide
- Iddat: Rules and Implications After Divorce
- Child Maintenance Can't Be Waived: LHC's 2026 Ruling
Need guidance on your situation? Choosing the right route and protecting your dower matter as much as the decree itself. Contact us to book a confidential consultation.
Common questions
Yes. There is no time limit on khula and no rule that a long marriage cannot be dissolved. The court examines whether the wife can continue the marriage and whether reconciliation is possible, regardless of how many years the couple has been married.
No. Reconciliation is mandatory, but it requires willingness on both sides to succeed. If reconciliation fails, the court can pass a decree, and a husband who stays away despite proper service cannot block the case.
In khula the wife generally offers to return the dower received, and the court decides what must be returned on the facts. There is no universal fixed percentage, and the position differs if she proves a statutory ground for dissolution, so the dower question should be settled case by case.
No. After the decree, the matter goes to the Union Council, which issues the certificate of dissolution after the iddat period. Keep that certificate: it is the formal record that the marriage has ended.
Related guides
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