We are told everything is working in our country and that it has moved forward a long way in ensuring progress in all spheres of life. But what you would say to justify the claim and explain the pain of a woman who is unable to get her right of Haq Mehr for the last 75 years, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday.

Yes! It is true. It is the story of Saeeda Sultan, 90, from Peshawar which truly depicts the issues faced by the overwhelming majority in our society, as she reached the Supreme Court with a hope that she, somehow, will be able to get justice in her life. But to her disappointment, the matter is sent back to the district-level courts.

It again shows that the legal maxim “justice delayed is justice denied” has become just a cliché, a rhetorical statement in Pakistan as people spend all their lives in search of getting their right with the system unable to provide any protection or support.

And in many cases, even their next generations are seen fighting the legal battles they inherit from parents or grandparents.

Haq Mehr is a sum that becomes payable by the husband to wife on marriage either by agreement between parties or by operation of law. The question is: how and why she is unable to get her right granted by Pakistani law and Sharia?

Sharing the details of her ordeal, Saeeda told media persons outside the Supreme Court that she was married at the age of 15 and the matter had been sub judice with different courts since 1970. Her husband had died but she was unable to get the possession of 3.5 kanals of land even after that, she added. 

But the travesty of the justice system can be gauged by the fact that she couldn’t get the possession of the property in question even after the verdict was issued in her favour. 

In this connection, Saeeda said a bogus reported was presented before a court, showing that she had the possession.

And it seems that her struggle isn’t going to end as the Supreme Court is sending the matter again to the lower judiciary.  

Will she get justice after 100 or 200 years if she moved the sessions court again, questioned the elderly lady.