Visitation Rights in Pakistan

When parents separate, divorce, obtain khula, or begin living apart, physical custody of a child may remain with one parent. That does not ordinarily mean that the child's relationship with the other parent should end.

Pakistani family law recognises visitation and meeting rights as an important part of child custody and guardianship proceedings. The central consideration is not the personal victory of either parent, but the welfare and best interests of the minor.

Advocate Khurram Shahbaz Malhi of Malhi Law Associates represents parents in visitation, child custody, guardianship, enforcement of access orders, interim custody and overseas family disputes before the Family and Guardian Courts in Lahore.

A visitation case may involve:

• Regular meetings with the child

• Weekend access

• Temporary custody during holidays

• Eid and religious holidays

• Summer and winter vacations

• Overnight access where appropriate

• Telephone and video calls

• Access for an overseas parent

• Supervised meetings

• Modification of an existing visitation schedule

• Enforcement where the custodial parent refuses access

• Visitation during a pending custody case

If the dispute also concerns permanent custody, see our detailed guide to Child Custody Law in Pakistan or our Child Custody Lawyer in Lahore service.

Does the Non-Custodial Parent Have Visitation Rights in Pakistan?

Generally, yes, subject always to the welfare of the child.

A parent who does not have physical custody may ask the Family Court for meaningful access to the child.

The court can regulate:

when the parent will meet the child,

where meetings will occur,

how long meetings will last,

whether holidays or overnight access will be allowed,

and, where necessary,

whether meetings require supervision or other safeguards.

There is no universal visitation timetable that automatically applies to every Pakistani family.

The court determines an arrangement according to the particular circumstances of the child.

What Are Visitation Rights?

Visitation rights, sometimes described as meeting rights, access rights or parenting time, allow a non-custodial parent to maintain personal contact and a meaningful relationship with the child.

Visitation does not mean permanent custody has been transferred.

For example:

Physical custody: Child primarily resides with the mother.

Visitation: Father meets the child on scheduled weekends, holidays and other dates fixed by the court.

The same principle can operate in reverse where physical custody is with the father.

The purpose is to prevent the breakdown of the child's relationship with a parent merely because the parents' marital relationship has ended.

Laws Governing Visitation Rights in Pakistan

Unlike some jurisdictions, Pakistan does not presently have one comprehensive statutory provision prescribing a fixed visitation timetable.

Visitation rights instead arise through a combination of:

1. Guardians and Wards Act, 1890

The Guardians and Wards Act provides the principal statutory framework for guardianship and custody of minors.

Particularly relevant provisions include:

• Section 7 — Appointment or declaration of guardian

• Section 12 — Interlocutory orders for production and temporary custody/protection of the minor

• Section 17 — Matters to be considered in appointing guardian; welfare of minor

• Section 25 — Custody and return of ward

Although the Act does not prescribe a universal schedule such as “two weekends per month,” its custody and welfare jurisdiction provides the framework within which courts regulate parental access.

2. Family Courts Act, 1964

The Family Courts Act gives Family Courts jurisdiction over family matters including:

• Custody of children

• Visitation rights of parents

• Guardianship

Accordingly, a parent seeking access to a child may approach the competent Family Court rather than treating visitation merely as an informal privilege granted by the custodial parent.

3. Family Courts Rules

The applicable Family Court procedural rules regulate how family proceedings are instituted and conducted.

For a visitation case in Lahore, territorial jurisdiction, pleadings, service, interim applications and subsequent proceedings must be considered in accordance with the applicable Punjab family-law framework.

4. Constitution of Pakistan

Article 35 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan directs the State to protect marriage, the family, the mother and the child.

While Article 35 does not itself prescribe a visitation schedule, protection of the child and family relationship forms part of the broader constitutional background against which family-law disputes are decided.

5. Convention on the Rights of the Child

Pakistan is a State Party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Article 9(3) recognises, subject to the child's best interests, the importance of maintaining personal relations and direct contact with both parents where a child is separated from one or both of them.

Domestic custody disputes remain governed by Pakistani law, but the principle reinforces the child-centred nature of parental access.

Section 12 of the Guardians and Wards Act — Interim Visitation Rights

One of the most practically important provisions in custody litigation is Section 12 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890.

During pending guardianship proceedings, the court may make interlocutory orders concerning the production of the minor and temporary custody or protection.

In practice, this jurisdiction can become important when a parent says:

“My custody case may take time, but I have not seen my child for months.”

The parent need not necessarily wait for the final judgment before asking the court to regulate interim access.

An interim application may seek arrangements such as:

• Meetings on specified dates

• Weekly or fortnightly access

• Eid meetings

• School holiday access

• Video calls

• Temporary custody for limited periods

• Production of the child before court

The appropriate order depends upon the facts and welfare of the particular minor.

Section 17 — Welfare of the Minor Controls Visitation

Section 17 of the Guardians and Wards Act embodies the welfare principle.

This is crucial because visitation is not merely about asking:

“What rights does the father have?”

or:

“What rights does the mother have?”

The more important question is:

What access arrangement is genuinely in the child's welfare?

The court may consider:

• Age of the child

• Emotional attachment

• Existing relationship with the parent

• School schedule

• Health

• Distance between the parents

• Behaviour during previous meetings

• Safety concerns

• The child's preference where sufficiently mature

• Whether access is being used to harass the other parent

• Whether one parent is attempting to alienate the child

• Practicality of the proposed schedule

This is why two apparently similar visitation cases can result in very different orders.

Section 25 — Custody and Parental Access

Section 25 deals with custody where a ward leaves or is removed from the custody of a guardian.

Although custody and visitation are distinct remedies, Section 25 litigation frequently creates the practical question of how the child will continue to maintain contact with the parent who does not receive physical custody.

Accordingly, a custody order should not automatically be understood as extinguishing the child's relationship with the other parent.

Leading Supreme Court Judgment on Visitation Rights

Mst. Madiha Younus v. Imran Ahmed — 2018 SCMR 1991

This is one of the most important reported Supreme Court authorities concerning structured visitation arrangements in Pakistan.

The dispute concerned the custody and access arrangements relating to minor children.

The Supreme Court approved a detailed parenting arrangement rather than reducing the non-custodial parent's role to an occasional brief meeting.

The arrangement addressed matters including:

• Regular access

• Weekends

• School vacations

• Eid holidays

• Other periods of contact

• Financial responsibility concerning the children

Why 2018 SCMR 1991 Matters

The significance of the case is not that every Family Court must mechanically reproduce exactly the same schedule.

Every child's circumstances remain different.

Its importance lies in demonstrating that meaningful visitation can involve substantially more than a short meeting inside court once every several weeks.

The court may construct a practical arrangement capable of preserving the child's relationship with the non-custodial parent while protecting welfare.

Welfare of the Child Remains Paramount — Recent Supreme Court Approach

The superior courts continue to treat welfare as the controlling consideration in custody and access litigation.

Reported Supreme Court authorities including:

2022 SCMR 2123

and

PLD 2025 Supreme Court 47

reaffirm the central role of the welfare principle in guardianship and custody matters.

Accordingly, neither biological status nor a technical parental claim automatically overrides the child's actual welfare.

The same approach is important when the court determines how much access should be granted to the non-custodial parent.

Visitation Is Not Merely a Father's Right

A common misconception is that visitation litigation concerns only fathers.

It does not.

The non-custodial parent may be:

• Father

• Mother

and, depending upon the circumstances, disputes may also concern access sought by:

• Grandparents

• Other persons having a significant relationship with the child

The court's focus remains the minor rather than the gender of the applicant.

Visitation Rights of a Father in Pakistan

Where physical custody remains with the mother, the father may seek meaningful access to his child.

Possible arrangements may include:

Regular Meetings

Weekly, fortnightly or another schedule appropriate to the child.

Weekend Access

The child may spend a portion of weekends with the father.

Holiday Access

Summer, winter and school holidays can permit longer periods of interaction than ordinary weekly meetings.

Eid Arrangements

Courts may divide or alternate Eid periods so that the child can maintain relationships with both sides of the family.

Telephone and Video Communication

Especially useful where physical meetings cannot occur frequently.

Temporary or Overnight Custody

Where age, circumstances and welfare permit, the court may consider more substantial periods than a short supervised meeting.

There is no automatic entitlement to every form of access. The requested arrangement must remain consistent with welfare.

Visitation Rights of a Mother in Pakistan

A mother can also seek visitation where physical custody is with the father or another guardian.

Her right to approach the Family Court does not disappear merely because:

• The child is presently with the father

• She obtained khula

• She has remarried

• A previous custody order went against her

The court must examine whether continuing contact with the mother serves the child's welfare.

Where visitation has been unjustifiably denied, appropriate proceedings may be initiated before the competent court.

Visitation Rights After Divorce

Divorce does not terminate parenthood.

A talaq may terminate the marital relationship between husband and wife, but it does not automatically end the child's relationship with either parent.

A custody arrangement following divorce can therefore contain provisions concerning:

• Regular meetings

• Weekend access

• Holidays

• Eid

• Birthdays

• Telephone communication

• Video calls

• Temporary custody

If your dispute also involves dissolution of marriage, see our guide to Divorce & Khula in Pakistan.

Visitation Rights After Khula

A decree of khula does not automatically deprive a father of access to his children.

Similarly, obtaining khula should not be treated as a legal basis for using children to punish the former husband.

Custody, visitation and dissolution of marriage are separate issues.

Where parents cannot agree, the Family Court can regulate access according to the welfare of the children.

For a detailed explanation of dissolution proceedings, see Khula Process in Pakistan.

Can a Mother Stop the Father From Meeting the Child?

A custodial mother should not ordinarily treat access as something entirely within her personal discretion where a court has already passed a visitation order.

If there are genuine concerns relating to:

• Abuse

• Violence

• Abduction

• Serious threats

• Substance misuse

• Psychological harm

• Safety of the minor

the proper approach is to place those facts and supporting evidence before the court and seek appropriate protective directions.

Unilateral and repeated obstruction without sufficient justification can result in further litigation.

Can a Father Refuse the Mother Visitation?

The same principle applies where custody is with the father.

Possession of the child does not convert the custodian into the sole legal decision-maker concerning the child's relationship with the other parent.

If a visitation order exists, it should be followed unless modified by the competent court.

Where circumstances have materially changed, the appropriate remedy is to seek variation of the order rather than simply disregard it.

What If a Parent Does Not Produce the Child for Visitation?

This is one of the most common practical problems in visitation litigation.

Examples include:

• Not bringing the child on the appointed date

• Deliberately arriving after the scheduled time

• Cancelling every meeting

• Claiming repeatedly that the child is unavailable

• Blocking calls

• Taking the child away during scheduled visitation

• Ignoring holiday arrangements

The affected parent should create a proper evidentiary record.

Useful material may include:

• Certified copy of the visitation order

• Court attendance record

• Messages

• Call records

• Notices between counsel

• Evidence of arrival at the designated meeting place

• Previous applications concerning non-compliance

The parent can then seek enforcement or further directions from the Family Court.

See also our guide on Visitation Rights Enforcement in Pakistan.

Enforcement of Visitation Orders in Pakistan

Obtaining an order is sometimes only the first stage.

Where repeated non-compliance occurs, the aggrieved parent may approach the Family Court and request appropriate directions.

Depending upon the circumstances, the court may consider:

• Reaffirming the existing schedule

• Directing production of the child

• Restructuring access

• Changing the meeting venue

• Compensating for missed visitation

• Establishing clearer holiday arrangements

• Making additional directions designed to secure compliance

The precise remedy depends upon the procedural posture and facts of the case.

Persistent obstruction can also become relevant to the broader welfare assessment where it demonstrates an attempt to destroy the child's relationship with the other parent.

Can the Visitation Schedule Be Modified?

Yes.

A visitation arrangement appropriate for a three-year-old may become impractical when the same child reaches school age.

Circumstances can also change because of:

• Schooling

• Relocation

• Employment

• Change of city

• Overseas residence

• Health

• Examination schedules

• The child's age

• Previous compliance

• Safety concerns

• Improved relationship between parent and child

A party can therefore seek modification where the existing arrangement no longer serves the child's welfare.

A visitation order should serve the child rather than operate as an inflexible calendar forever.

Weekly, Weekend and Holiday Visitation

There is no fixed statutory formula requiring every Family Court to order the same arrangement.

Depending on the child's circumstances, a workable schedule might include:

Regular access

Periodic meetings during the month.

Weekend access

Longer meetings or temporary custody on selected weekends.

Summer holidays

Extended contact during school vacation.

Winter holidays

Additional access where suitable.

Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha

Shared or alternating arrangements.

Birthdays and special occasions

Additional contact where appropriate.

Video communication

Particularly important for overseas parents.

The schedule should be realistic enough that the parties can actually comply with it.

Should Visitation Take Place Inside the Court?

Not necessarily.

Court-premises meetings may sometimes be used at an early or highly contested stage because they provide a neutral environment.

However, a short meeting inside a courtroom or court complex is not necessarily the ideal long-term model for every child.

Depending upon age, previous relationship, safety and welfare, a court may consider access:

• At a neutral location

• Outside court

• At a suitable family location

• Through temporary custody

• During holidays

• Under supervision where genuinely required

The objective should be meaningful parent-child interaction, not merely formal compliance with an order.

Supervised Visitation

Supervised visitation may be appropriate where unrestricted meetings presently create a genuine welfare concern.

Possible reasons can include credible evidence of:

• Violence

• Abuse

• Serious psychological instability affecting the child

• Threat of unlawful removal

• Substance misuse

• Extended absence resulting in the need for gradual reintroduction

Supervision should not be requested merely to humiliate the other parent.

The party seeking restrictions should explain why they are necessary for the child's protection.

Can Visitation Be Completely Denied?

Complete denial of parent-child contact is a serious restriction.

It may become appropriate where credible evidence shows that contact itself creates a substantial risk to the child's:

• Physical safety

• Mental welfare

• Emotional wellbeing

Depending on the circumstances, a court may instead consider less restrictive safeguards such as:

• Supervised access

• Neutral venue

• Shorter meetings

• Gradual restoration of contact

The facts determine the appropriate response.

Visitation Rights and Allegations of Abuse

Where allegations of abuse are genuine, they should be taken seriously and supported with whatever reliable evidence is available.

Relevant evidence may include:

• Medical records

• Police material

• Previous proceedings

• Witness testimony

• School or psychological records where appropriate

• Communications

• Earlier court orders

At the same time, allegations should not be manufactured merely to defeat another parent's access.

False or exaggerated allegations can damage credibility in a welfare-based proceeding.

Visitation Rights and Child Maintenance

Maintenance and visitation are separate legal questions.

A child should not become leverage in a financial dispute between the parents.

Accordingly:

“He has not paid maintenance, therefore he can never see the child”

and:

“She does not let me meet the child, therefore I will stop maintenance”

are both legally dangerous approaches.

A maintenance dispute should be pursued through the appropriate legal remedy.

A visitation dispute should likewise be taken before the Family Court.

For maintenance issues, see Child Maintenance Law in Pakistan and our Child Maintenance Lawyer in Lahore.

Visitation and Child Custody Are Different

These concepts should not be confused.

Custody

Determines primarily:

where the child lives and who provides day-to-day physical care.

Visitation

Determines:

how the parent without physical custody continues to maintain contact with the child.

Guardianship

May concern broader legal authority over:

• The child

• Documents

• Property

• Travel

• Other legal matters

For the complete distinction, see Child Custody Lawyer in Lahore and Guardian Lawyer in Lahore.

Visitation Rights for Overseas Pakistani Parents

An overseas parent should not automatically be reduced to seeing a child for a few minutes whenever he or she happens to visit Pakistan.

A practical international visitation arrangement may potentially involve:

• Video calls

• Telephone communication

• Longer access when the parent visits Pakistan

• Summer holidays

• Winter holidays

• Eid periods

• Travel arrangements

• Temporary custody

• Overseas access where legally and practically appropriate

The court may consider:

• Country of residence

• Immigration status

• Child's passport

• School calendar

• Travel expenses

• Previous compliance with orders

• Risk of non-return

• Strength of the parent-child relationship

• Overall welfare of the child

Cross-border disputes require particularly careful drafting because a vague visitation order may become difficult to implement internationally.

See our Overseas Pakistani Family Lawyer services for connected cross-border matters.

Virtual Visitation and Video Calls

Technology has become increasingly important where parents live in different cities or countries.

A court-regulated arrangement may include:

• WhatsApp video calls

• Telephone calls

• Other appropriate online communication

Virtual access should normally supplement rather than automatically replace meaningful physical contact where physical meetings are practicable and safe.

A useful order should specify practical details such as:

• Days

• Time

• Duration

• Who initiates the call

• Whether unnecessary interference is prohibited

Specificity reduces future disputes.

Can Grandparents Seek Visitation Rights?

Grandparents may become important figures in a child's life, particularly following divorce, death of a parent or prolonged family conflict.

However, a grandparent does not necessarily receive the same legal position as a parent simply because of biological relationship.

Where the court is asked to regulate contact, the controlling consideration remains whether the proposed relationship serves the welfare of the child.

What If the Child Refuses to Meet the Parent?

The child's refusal should not automatically be ignored — but neither should every refusal automatically terminate visitation.

The court may consider:

• Child's age

• Maturity

• Reasons given

• Length of separation

• Previous relationship

• Possibility of parental influence

• Fear or safety concerns

• Whether gradual restoration of contact is appropriate

A teenager expressing a mature and independently formed concern may require a different approach from a young child repeating the language of a hostile parent.

Parental Alienation and Visitation Disputes

Highly contested separations sometimes result in one parent attempting to damage the child's relationship with the other.

Possible warning signs include:

• Repeated obstruction of meetings

• Speaking negatively about the other parent before the child

• Making the child responsible for adult disputes

• Preventing telephone contact

• Creating unnecessary fear

• Repeatedly forcing the child to choose sides

Not every reluctant child is the victim of parental alienation, and the term should not be used casually.

But where deliberate interference can be established, the court may consider its effect on the child's welfare.

How to File a Visitation Rights Case in Lahore

The exact procedure depends upon whether custody or guardianship litigation is already pending.

A typical matter may proceed as follows:

Step 1 — Determine the Existing Legal Position

Check whether there is already:

• Custody litigation

• Guardianship litigation

• A visitation order

• A divorce or khula case

• Any previous agreement

• A foreign custody order

↓

Step 2 — Determine Jurisdiction

The competent Family/Guardian Court must be identified according to the applicable statutory rules and facts.

↓

Step 3 — Prepare the Application or Proceedings

The relief sought should be specific.

Instead of asking only:

“Grant visitation.”

it may be better to propose a workable arrangement dealing with:

• Regular meetings

• Holidays

• Eid

• Calls

• Venue

• Pick-up and return

• Overseas contact

↓

Step 4 — Seek Interim Access Where Required

If the main litigation is pending and access has completely stopped, interim relief may be pursued.

↓

Step 5 — Respondent Appears

The custodial parent may agree, oppose or seek restrictions.

↓

Step 6 — Court Assesses Welfare

The court examines the circumstances of the child rather than merely the hostility between parents.

↓

Step 7 — Visitation Schedule

The court may frame an arrangement suited to the child's age, routine and welfare.

↓

Step 8 — Enforcement or Modification

If circumstances change or the order is repeatedly violated, further relief may be sought.

Documents Useful in a Visitation Rights Case

Depending upon the dispute, useful documents may include:

• Applicant's CNIC

• Child's B-Form or birth certificate

• Nikah Nama

• Divorce documents

• Khula decree

• Existing custody orders

• Existing visitation orders

• School calendar

• Passport documents

• Travel documents

• Messages showing denial of access

• Call records

• Evidence of previous meetings

• Court attendance records

• Evidence supporting any claimed safety concerns

The documents required in a simple visitation application will differ from those needed in a contested international-access case.

Evidence in an Enforcement Case

If the complaint is that an existing visitation order is being violated, preserve evidence from the beginning.

For example:

Order:
Certified copy of the court's visitation directions.

Non-compliance:
Messages showing refusal to produce the child.

Attendance:
Evidence that the applicant actually appeared at the appointed time/place.

Pattern:
A chronological record showing repeated missed meetings.

This is substantially more useful than returning to court with only a general allegation:

“They never let me meet my child.”

Visitation Case Strategy: Ask for a Workable Schedule

One common mistake is seeking an unrealistic order.

For example, an arrangement that ignores:

• School

• Distance

• Travel time

• Work schedules

• Child's age

may produce future enforcement litigation even if the order is initially granted.

A better proposed schedule answers:

When?

Where?

For how long?

Who picks up the child?

Who returns the child?

What happens during school holidays?

What happens on Eid?

What happens if a parent lives abroad?

How will calls occur between physical meetings?

Good visitation litigation should reduce future conflict rather than create another vague order for the parties to fight over.

A Practical Example of a Structured Visitation Plan

The following is only an illustrative framework, not a fixed legal entitlement:

Regular Meetings:
Specified weekends or dates each month.

Summer Vacation:
Defined period with the non-custodial parent.

Winter Vacation:
Defined portion of school holidays.

Eid:
Alternating or divided time.

Birthdays:
Specified contact or meeting.

Telephone/Video Calls:
Fixed days and reasonable times.

Pick-Up and Return:
Clear location and responsibility.

International Parent:
Longer physical access when present in Pakistan plus regular remote contact.

The actual order should be tailored to the child.

Selected Visitation Matter Handled by Malhi Law Associates

Visitation Rights Obtained for a Remarried Mother in a Highly Contested Case

A mother approached Malhi Law Associates approximately five years after her divorce.

She had remarried and had children from her subsequent marriage, while her daughter from the earlier marriage remained separated from her.

The mother sought legal access and visitation with her daughter.

The proceedings were strongly contested, and the opposing side was represented by a substantial legal team.

Malhi Law Associates pursued the mother's visitation claim before the Family Court on the basis that remarriage did not by itself extinguish the parent-child relationship and that the child's welfare required the question of maternal access to be judicially considered.

Visitation relief was obtained within approximately two months of filing.

This matter illustrates an important principle:

A parent's remarriage does not automatically erase the child's relationship with that parent.

Why Visitation Cases Require More Than a One-Line Order

A weak visitation order may simply say that the parent can meet the child periodically.

That can create another dispute immediately:

• Which day?

• What time?

• For how long?

• Where?

• Who transports the child?

• What about Eid?

• What about holidays?

• Can the child stay overnight?

• What happens when a parent travels abroad?

A well-prepared visitation case attempts to resolve these practical questions before they become future litigation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Visitation Rights in Pakistan

Does a father have visitation rights after divorce?

Generally, a father who does not have physical custody can seek visitation, subject to the child's welfare and any relevant safety concerns.

Does khula end the father's visitation rights?

No. Khula dissolves the marriage; it does not automatically terminate the parent-child relationship.

Can a mother get visitation if the father has custody?

Yes. A mother may seek access where physical custody is with the father.

Can the custodial parent refuse a court visitation order?

A valid court order should be complied with unless it is modified, suspended or set aside by the competent court.

Can visitation be granted while the custody case is pending?

Yes. Interim arrangements may be sought during pending proceedings.

Which law governs interim visitation?

Section 12 of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 is particularly relevant to interlocutory arrangements concerning the minor, while visitation is also within Family Court jurisdiction.

Is one meeting per month the legal rule?

No. Pakistani legislation does not prescribe one universal monthly visitation formula. The arrangement depends upon welfare and the facts of each case.

Can the father keep the child overnight?

Potentially, where the court considers overnight or temporary custody appropriate to the child's age, circumstances and welfare.

Can the court allow holiday custody?

Yes, courts can structure access around school vacations and holidays where appropriate.

Can visitation include Eid?

Yes. Eid arrangements may form part of a structured access schedule.

Can an overseas father get video-call rights?

Remote communication can form part of a practical access arrangement, particularly where geographical distance prevents frequent physical meetings.

Can a parent ask for the visitation schedule to be changed?

Yes, where circumstances have materially changed or the existing arrangement no longer serves the child's welfare.

Does non-payment of maintenance automatically cancel visitation?

Maintenance and visitation are distinct legal issues. A maintenance dispute should ordinarily be pursued through its own legal remedy.

Can visitation be supervised?

Yes, where genuine welfare or safety considerations justify supervision.

Can visitation be completely stopped?

It may be restricted or denied where contact itself poses a serious welfare risk, but the decision depends upon evidence and the circumstances of the child.

Can grandparents seek access?

In appropriate circumstances, the court may consider the child's relationship with grandparents or other relatives, always subject to welfare.

What should I do if every court-ordered meeting is being blocked?

Keep evidence of each violation and seek enforcement/further directions from the Family Court rather than attempting to recover access through confrontation.

Key Legal Authorities on Visitation Rights

Guardians and Wards Act, 1890

Section 7 — Appointment/declaration of guardian
Section 12 — Interim production, custody and protection of minor
Section 17 — Welfare considerations
Section 25 — Custody/return of ward

Family Courts Act, 1964

The statutory Family Court framework covers custody, guardianship and parental visitation disputes.

Constitution of Pakistan

Article 35 — Protection of marriage, family, mother and child.

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Article 9(3) — Continuing personal relations and direct contact with both parents, unless contrary to the child's best interests.

Important Reported Judgments

Mst. Madiha Younus v. Imran Ahmed — 2018 SCMR 1991

Important Supreme Court authority demonstrating a detailed and structured approach to custody, visitation and holiday access.

2022 SCMR 2123 — Supreme Court

Relevant to the continuing paramountcy of the welfare principle in custody/guardianship adjudication.

PLD 2025 Supreme Court 47

Recent Supreme Court authority reaffirming that even the natural guardian's position remains subject to the welfare of the minor.

Speak With a Visitation Rights Lawyer in Lahore

The objective of a visitation case should not simply be:

“Give me two hours with my child.”

A better legal strategy asks:

What arrangement will allow this child to maintain a meaningful, stable and safe relationship with the non-custodial parent?

That may require much more precise relief concerning regular meetings, holidays, Eid, calls, pick-up arrangements, overseas access and enforcement.

Advocate Khurram Shahbaz Malhi and Malhi Law Associates represent parents in visitation, custody, guardianship, enforcement and overseas family disputes before the Family Courts in Lahore.

If access to your child has been stopped, an existing visitation order is being violated, or the present meeting arrangement is inadequate, the firm can assess the existing orders and seek an appropriate legal remedy.

Contact Malhi Law Associates

Child Custody Lawyer in Lahore

Child Custody Law in Pakistan

Guardian Lawyer in Lahore

Visitation Rights Enforcement in Pakistan

About the Author

Advocate Khurram Shahbaz Malhi
Advocate High Court
Founder — Malhi Law Associates
Lahore, Pakistan

Practice Areas: Child Custody, Visitation Rights, Guardianship, Divorce & Khula, Child Maintenance and Overseas Family Disputes.

Advocate Khurram Shahbaz Malhi also writes and publishes on child custody and Pakistani family law and represents clients in contested custody, visitation and cross-border family disputes.

Last legally reviewed: August 2026

Primary legislation reviewed: Guardians and Wards Act, 1890; Family Courts Act, 1964.

This page provides general legal information. The appropriate visitation arrangement and remedy depend upon the facts and existing court orders in each case.