Supreme Court Rules Triple Talaq Ineffective Until Completion of 90-Day Period

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ruled that under Section 7 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance (MFLO) 1961, *any form of divorce—including triple talaq—does not become effective until the completion of the mandatory 90-day period*.

A three-member bench comprising Chief Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Muhammad Shafi Siddiqui, and Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb issued the ruling while disposing of a petition filed by Muhammad Hassan Sultan regarding the validity of a divorce.

The court held that if a husband has unconditionally delegated the right of divorce (*Talaq-e-Tafweez*) to his wife, she also retains the full right to revoke the divorce before the 90-day period ends.

Upholding the Sindh High Court’s 7 October 2024 decision, the Supreme Court noted that the couple married in 2016 and that, under Clause 18 of the Nikahnama, the husband had delegated unconditional divorce rights to his wife, Moreel Shah.

The wife issued a notice under Section 7(1) on July 3, 2023, but withdrew the proceedings on August 10, 2023—before the 90-day period was completed. Consequently, the Union Council Chairman/Arbitration Council terminated the divorce proceedings accordingly.