A woman’s identity is not defined by her marital status.
The Lahore High Court recognized this in 2024.
The Government conceded it.
DGIP’s latest press release reflects that shift.
Small change on paper. Big shift in principle. @DGIPofficial @unwomen_pak @AlenaSadiq
Mehr Bano Saeed retweeted
Finally! 🙏🏾
Kudos to both Mehr Bano Langrial @mehrbl and Khadija Yasmin Bokhari @yasmin_bokhari for pursuing and winning their cases in LHC in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who spoke up and advocated for this, including @unwomen_pak
Mehr Bano Saeed retweeted
Three years later, we did it! Change has finally come 🙏🏾
Married women can now retain their father’s name on their passports — and all passports will now list mother’s name as well.
@yasmin_bokhari @mehrbl
Passport office has refused to give me a new passport unless I put my husband’s name on my ID card. @NadraPak what’s the point of giving women the option to have their father’s name on their CNIC after marriage if the passport office isn’t going to comply? Ridiculous policies.
Mehr Bano Saeed retweeted
Well done @mehrbl for taking this to court and ensuring that a woman can have her father’s name on her passport irrespective of her marital status. More power to you and other women in law who put their legal skills to good use.
Proud moment for our Firm as my colleague @mehrbl successfully petitions the Lahore High Court to order the Federal Government to ensure that a woman, irrespective of her marital status, has the right to have her father’s name on her passport, safeguarding a right to identity.
Mehr Bano Saeed retweeted
Thank you @mehrbl for making me a part of this effort. Important win for women empowerment. LHC judgement paves way for recognition of women’s right to identity.
I) Gov has admitted women’s right to retain father name.
II) Gov stated on record that policy to be made in 3months
As one of the petitioners and counsel in this case, I am lucky to have had the opportunity of contributing to the development and recognition of women’s rights to identity and dignity as enshrined under the Constitution.
Proud moment for our Firm as my colleague @mehrbl successfully petitions the Lahore High Court to order the Federal Government to ensure that a woman, irrespective of her marital status, has the right to have her father’s name on her passport, safeguarding a right to identity.
Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (CDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). These treaties, specifically CDHR, expressly state that a woman has the right to retain her name and lineage.
Various branches of the Directorate General of Immigration & Passports Office (DGIP) in Lahore refused to issue a new passport for my daughter because my CNIC has been issued with my father's name as opposed to my husband's name. Eventually the main Garden Town branch did issue
passport. There is no requirement under any law (including NADRA policy or DGIP Policy) for a married woman to have her husband’s name on her respective CNIC. A married woman is free to keep her father’s name on her CNIC even after marriage.