Legal Dictionary: Common Pakistani Legal Terms Explained

Clients often arrive already having heard a term — from a relative, a news report, or another lawyer's advice — without a clear sense of what it actually means under Pakistani law. This page collects the terms we're asked to explain most often, in plain English, each linked to a fuller article where one exists on this site.

Family law terms

• Khula — the route by which a wife can end a marriage through the Family Court without her husband's consent, on the basis that she cannot continue the marriage within the limits prescribed by God. See Khulla: grounds and process.
• Talaq — divorce initiated by the husband, which under Section 7 of the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance requires written notice to the Union Council and a 90-day reconciliation period before it takes effect. See Talaq procedure under the MFLO.
• Mubarat — divorce by mutual consent, where both spouses agree to end the marriage. See Khula vs Talaq vs Mubarat.
• Haq Mehr — the sum or property a husband is obligated to give his wife under the marriage contract (Nikah Nama), payable either immediately (prompt/mu'ajjal) or on dissolution of the marriage (deferred/mu'wajjal). See Recovering Haq Mehr.
• Nikah Nama — the formal marriage contract registered with the Union Council, recording the mehr amount and any conditions agreed by the parties.
• Guardian Court — the court that decides child custody and guardianship matters under the Guardians and Wards Act, 1890, based on the welfare of the minor.

Criminal law terms

• FIR (First Information Report) — the initial written record police prepare when a cognizable offence is reported, which formally starts a criminal investigation. See What happens after an FIR is registered.
• Pre-arrest bail — bail sought before arrest, typically where a person believes they may be wrongfully implicated in a case. See Pre-arrest bail in Pakistan.
• Cognizable offence — an offence serious enough that police can arrest without a warrant and begin investigation without prior court permission.
• Complainant — the person who reports an offence and on whose information the FIR is registered.

Civil litigation terms

• Plaint — the formal written document that starts a civil lawsuit, setting out the facts and the relief sought.
• Ex-parte — a hearing or order made in the absence of one party, usually because that party failed to appear despite notice.
• Stay order — a court order temporarily halting a specific action (such as a sale, construction, or enforcement step) while a case is pending.
• Interim injunction — a temporary court order preventing a party from doing something until the underlying case is decided. See Interim injunctions in Pakistan.
• Decree — the formal expression of a court's final decision in a civil suit, as distinct from the judgment (the reasoning behind it).
• Limitation period — the statutory time limit within which a legal claim must be filed, after which the right to sue is generally lost.

Documents & procedure terms

• Vakalatnama — the formal document by which a client authorises an advocate to represent them before a specific court.
• Power of Attorney — a legal document authorising another person to act on one's behalf in specified matters, commonly used by overseas clients who cannot appear in person.
• Affidavit — a written statement sworn to be true, used as evidence in court proceedings.
• Show-cause notice — an official notice requiring a person or company to explain why a particular action (such as a penalty or cancellation) should not be taken against them, common in tax and regulatory matters.
• Reference application — an appeal on a question of law from a tribunal decision (such as a tax tribunal) to the High Court.

This list will grow as new terms come up in client conversations. If there's a term you've come across and want explained, ask us directly — that's usually how a new entry gets added.

This article is general information about Pakistani law and procedure, not legal advice for any specific matter. If this touches on something you're currently facing, get in touch and we'll advise on your facts directly.