The Lahore High Court has ordered a man to pay Rs1 million as deferred dower and monthly maintenance to his wife. Justice Abid Hussain Chattha issued this ruling after confirming that marrying again without prior permission triggers immediate dower payment under the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961. The case involved Mehnaz Saleem and Kashif Iqbal. Ms Saleem sought Rs1 million deferred dower, maintenance, and dowry recovery. The family court awarded Rs15,000 monthly maintenance for the iddat period, Rs1 million deferred dower, and dowry articles or their value at Rs1,000,500. Appeals from both parties changed the orders, but the Lahore High Court reviewed the case. Justice Chattha noted that the husband had contracted additional marriages without written consent and had been convicted. He said, "The entire deferred dower of Rs1 million became immediately payable." The marriage from November 27, 2021, remains legally valid as no proof of valid divorce exists; "mere assertion of oral talaq is insufficient," he emphasized. Referring to the Supreme Court ruling in Ambreen Akram v. Asaullah Khan, the judge underlined that maintenance is a binding duty flowing from a valid marriage. The wife had separated only after one month and did not leave the house unlawfully. The husband’s unauthorized subsequent marriages strengthened her claim. The court set maintenance at Rs15,000 per month starting December 27, 2021, with a 10% annual increase until entitlement ends. On dowry, the judge restored the family court's original award. He rejected the appellate court’s reduction based on social assumptions, stating, "Dowry claims must be determined strictly on evidence, not conjecture." The judge dismissed the husband’s plea and partially allowed the wife’s petition. She is entitled to Rs1 million deferred dower, monthly maintenance, and dowry as initially decreed.