^{By Rafiya}

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Pakistan is known as the Male Dominant country where every right and authority depends mostly on the male head of the family. But this patriarchy seems to suppress the legal rights of women for years reported in numerous cases and complaints against violence and not giving the inherited property share equally to women.

Whereas, these legal rights are granted to women not only by Sharia Law but in the country’s constitution as well, but due to the poor implementation, every effort goes awry. This injustice is not only common in Interior Sindh or feudalism rather a majority of our society doesn’t prioritize women’s basic rights and education especially when it comes to money and property.

According to a study, around an 81percent of girls aren’t able to finish their primary education. These house makers and the first institute of their child are not only uneducated but they endure domestic abuse, murder, torture, and many more which makes Pakistan the sixth most dangerous country for women. Where nobody gives them importance and prioritize their needs.

The biggest contentions occur on giving the inherited Shares of women in property either from her parents or in-laws or her own family.In the feudal system, there are thousands of cases of murder, violence, and marriages with the Quran in the name of Haq Bakhsish just to not give them their legal shares. Whereas in urban areas, several people claim dowry as property shares and many people openly say no to give any share to females.

Many people take advantage of not having an official nomination or will because of which other relative’s takeover and claim their rights as well. This injustice not only takes away the roof from the head but also takes lifelong savings from many like, an old widow Bibi Iqbal who lives with her two daughters in a one-room rented house.

Perhaps, like most of the women majority, she also didn’t complain against the injustice. Mrs. Iqbal said that it’s better to not waste what is left on the cases and lawyers. As there was no proper will written by her father-in-law.

Mrs. Iqbal told me that their neighbors came to handle the situation and give her a Shawl to cover herself but he bravely keep shouting.

According to an Advocate and Property lawyer, Imran Ahmed Khan, “In this scenario, the Widow is liable to get the Share of her deceased Husband as per the Muhammadan Law. The brother in law of the lady has illegally usurped the shares, legal heirs. The Brother-in-Law of Widow has transferred the property through Sale Deed with certain consideration which was not paid or without formation of any Gift Deed in his favor which makes this transaction illegal as per the Transfer of Property Act, 1882.”

Whereas on the other side of the picture, I talked to the two sisters Mrs. Imtiaz and Mrs. Ayaz who for the time being gave their inherited money to their brother as per the financial crisis. But when the situation becomes stabilized their brothers denied to give them their due share back. To this, which Mrs. Imtiaz stood against their brothers as she needed the money but she ended up in hospital because of the physical violence and now she cannot enter her own parents’ house.

The story not only ends with in-laws or sibling rivalry, the inherited shares cause damages to the mothers as well. I met an old widow Mrs. Shamim Ara, who lives with her son after the demise of her husband. But now she has to rely on others for help as Mrs. Shamim is too old and uneducated as her children took her thumb stamp on property papers which not only give them their inherited shares but also took Mrs.Shamim’s legal share as well without her consent.

According to Human Rights activist Farhat Parveen, there are strict rules against this injustice. So if we take dowry as property share, then why after living their whole life with their family in inherited house men still deserve the property share, in the end… we are the only ones who can take a stand for ourselves.