A Landmark Resource for Pakistani Courts on International Child Abduction

Musawi is proud to announce the official launch of the Bench Book on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (1980).

Funded by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad, this pioneering publication represents a significant milestone—the first dedicated judicial reference in Pakistan focused on the application of the Hague Convention in international parental child abduction cases.

Developed in response to a growing need for structured and rights-based adjudication in cross-border custody disputes, the Bench Book provides comprehensive legal guidance tailored to the Pakistani judicial context. It includes sample pleadings, comparative jurisprudence, and step-by-step procedural frameworks, offering judges the tools to approach these complex matters with enhanced clarity, consistency, and sensitivity to the best interests of the child.

Authored by Barrister Khadija Yasmin Bokhari (Director, Litigation & Advocacy) and Samra Ahmad (Research Officer), the Bench Book exemplifies Musawi’s ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based, child-sensitive, and rights-oriented jurisprudence in Pakistan.