Divorced & deprived: Ombudsman restores woman's share in Rs110 million properties grabbed by ex-husband

The Federal Ombudsman for Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace has ruled in favor of Maleeha Mehboob, restoring her share in jointly owned property worth Rs110 million that had been withheld by her ex-husband, Dr. Shiraz Cheema.

According to the decision, the Ombudsman also disposed of a review petition filed by Dr. Cheema against an earlier ruling that had upheld Mehboob’s ownership rights. The case concluded after both parties reached a friendly settlement over the disputed assets.

Maleeha Mehboob, an IT professional, had filed a complaint alleging that her former husband had deprived her of jointly acquired properties following the dissolution of their marriage. The couple had married on April 11, 2004, and the union ended in 2019 through Khula.

During the proceedings, Maleeha maintained that the couple had jointly invested in multiple properties in Islamabad, including an apartment in Sector E-11 and three plots in Sector B-17. She submitted documentary evidence, payment records, and agreements proving her contribution toward the purchases.

Despite repeated notices, Dr. Cheema failed to appear before the Ombudsman, leading to unilateral proceedings. After the initial verdict was issued in favor of Maleeha, Dr. Cheema filed a review petition, which was later withdrawn when both sides agreed to an amicable resolution.

The Ombudsman’s office valued the properties at Rs110 million and facilitated a settlement proposal, which Dr. Cheema did not contest. Under the final order, an apartment and a flat were to be transferred to Ms. Mehboob, with transfer costs to be borne by her. The Multi-Professional Cooperative Housing Society (MPCHS) subsequently submitted a report confirming completion of the property transfer process.

The decision underscored that the Constitution of Pakistan guarantees equal property rights to women, reaffirming the state’s commitment to ensuring legal and economic protection for women in matters of ownership and inheritance.