The Supreme Court of Pakistan has announced a landmark judgment in open court clarifying that all forms of divorce, including instant triple talaq, can be revoked within 90 days. This ruling reinforces the reconciliation process embedded in the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961, and ensures that no divorce takes immediate effect.

Under this interpretation, once a divorce notice is issued, a mandatory three-month waiting period begins. During this time, reconciliation efforts must be initiated, and either spouse retains the right to withdraw the notice. The court emphasized that this “cooling off period” is designed to prevent hasty decisions and preserve family stability.

The case that led to this ruling involved a husband challenging his wife’s right to revoke a divorce notice she had issued. Both the Federation Council and the Sindh High Court upheld the revocation, and the Supreme Court affirmed that the law applies uniformly to all types of divorce. Crucially, the court also clarified that if a husband delegates the right to divorce to his wife, she can also revoke it within the 90-day period.

This ruling has significant social and legal implications. It strengthens women’s rights by ensuring that unilateral divorces do not take effect immediately, and it promotes justice by granting couples time to reconsider. By requiring them to reconcile, the court affirmed the importance of family unity and due process in marital disputes.

In essence, the ruling stipulates that a divorce in Pakistan does not become final until 90 days have passed, which represents a historic step in reforming family law.