Pakistan Supreme Court Strikes Down Gender Bias in Compassionate Appointments

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that excluding married daughters from compassionate appointments under Rule 10(4) of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Servants Rules, 1989, is unconstitutional and discriminatory.

The Court emphasized that a woman's legal rights and autonomy are not nullified by marriage.

In its judgment, the Court referenced decisions from the Supreme Court of India, highlighting the importance of avoiding gender stereotypes in legal interpretations

It ordered the reinstatement of Zahida Parveen, a primary school teacher whose appointment was revoked due to her marital status. The judgment also highlighted that assuming a married woman becomes financially dependent on her husband is both legally flawed and inconsistent with Islamic principles