Pakistan: Information on whether a woman needs written permission to bring her children out of Pakistan in 1997
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 March 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK26471.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Information on whether a woman needs written permission to bring her children out of Pakistan in 1997, 1 March 1997, PAK26471.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aada3f.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a 12 March 1997 telephone interview with the DIRB, an official with the High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan stated that women do not require written permission to take their children out of Pakistan. The source stated that a decision to take children out of Pakistan must be based on a mutual agreement between the wife and husband (ibid.). The official added that the husband must be consulted and must approve before a woman can take her children out of the country, but written proof of such consultation and approval is not required (ibid.). In the case of a woman who is divorced or widowed, there is no restriction preventing a woman who has custody of her children from taking them out of Pakistan. (ibid.). In the cases described above, the woman needs a valid passport with her children listed if they are under 12 years of age (ibid.). Independent passports would be provided to children over 12 years of age (ibid.).
Additional and/or corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Ottawa. 12 March 1997. Telephone interview with official.
Additional Sources Consulted
Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. 1995-1997.
Asia Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. 1995-1997.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for1996. 1997. (DOS Website).
DIRB Country File. 1995-1996.
DIRB Indexed Media Review [Ottawa]. 1995-1997.
Esposito, John L. 1982. Women in Muslim Family Law. Syracuse: Syracuse University Press.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports.
Mahmood, Tahir. 1995. Statutes of Personal Law in Islamic Countries: History, Texts and Analysis. New Delhi: India and Islam Research Council.
Nasir, Jamal J. 1990. The Status of Women Under Islamic Law and Under Modern Islamic Legislation. London: Graham & Trotman.
Pakistan: A Country Study. 1984.
On-line searches of news articles. (NEXIS)
