It has been stated by the Supreme Court that widows, just like all other citizens, have the right to employment, dignity, equality, and autonomy without being subjected to discrimination or threats of retaliation.
Chief Commissioner Regional Tax Officer, Bahawalpur filed an appeal against a decision that was issued by the Lahore High Court, Bahawalpur on December 21, 2022. The case was dismissed by a two-member panel of the supreme court, which consisted of Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbassi.
A five-page verdict that was written by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and released on Wednesday states that “widowhood is not a diminution of identity but rather a life circumstance deserving of dignity, protection, and equal opportunity.”
Widows’ rights should not be regarded as acts of benevolence on the part of the state; rather, they should be regarded as legal entitlements that have their origins in constitutional guarantees, statute protections, and emerging judicial principles.
Furthermore, international human rights documents to which Pakistan is a party, such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), place obligations on the state to eliminate legal and social barriers that prevent women from fully participating in the economic sphere.
As the court stated, “Widows, like all citizens, are entitled to employment, dignity, equality, and autonomy without discrimination or reprisal.” The court also stated that the law should serve as a barrier against exclusion rather than a vehicle for maintaining outmoded societal systems.
According to the verdict, “denying a woman the right to employment on the basis of her remarriage is a blatant reinforcement of patriarchal control, seeking to subordinate her legal identity to societal expectations.” This is a statement that contradicts the sentiments expressed in the judgment.
