Who Is Syeda Aliza Fatima (Aliza Sultan)? Her Divorce, the Court Case and What the Law Says

Who is Syeda Aliza Fatima?

Let’s start with the main point, and with a caution.

Syeda Aliza Sultan is not a politician, an actor or an official. She became known to the public for one reason. In 2022 she said openly that she had left an abusive marriage to a famous man. Her statement set off one of the biggest public arguments about domestic violence that Pakistan’s entertainment world has seen.

Different outlets have written her name in different ways. Most call her Syeda Aliza Sultan. At least one report uses Syeda Aliza Fatima Khan. They refer to the same person.

Because she is a private individual, this article sticks to what was said in public and in court. It does not guess at her age, her family or her life today. And it does not decide who is telling the truth. That is a court’s job.

A woman’s public statement started this story. The courts, the law and a wider debate about violence at home are what make it worth understanding.

The marriage and the divorce

Here is the outline that both sides accept.

• She and Feroze Khan married in 2018. He was already a well-known actor in television dramas.
• They have two children, a son and a daughter.
• The marriage ended in 2022. He later said the divorce had become final on 3 September 2022.

On 21 September 2022 she posted a statement on Instagram. In it she described years of physical and psychological violence during the marriage, along with infidelity, blackmail and humiliation.

Shortly afterwards he confirmed the divorce in his own statement. He said it had become final on 3 September 2022 and that he had filed a case in the family court for custody of the children and the right to visit them.

What each side says

This is the heart of the matter, so both positions are set out side by side.

What happened in court

The case was heard in a family court in Karachi’s District East. Two matters were before it: his request for custody and access, and her claim for the children’s maintenance.

Press reports describe the following steps.

1. October 2022. Her lawyers placed medical reports before the court. These were said to include an emergency-room record from November 2020 noting injuries and a complaint of assault.
2. His reply. He asked the court to issue her a notice to explain the documents, and his side filed a petition saying the papers were not genuine.
3. Late December 2022. The court ordered the police and hospital officials to verify the evidence she had filed.
4. Interim maintenance. The court set temporary child support at Rs 80,000 a month in total for the two children.
5. Visits. An early order would have let him keep the children for several days at a time. A higher court changed this to daytime visits during fixed hours.
6. Custody. One outlet later reported that custody was given to her and that he was allowed to see the children twice a month at the court, after handing over his identity card and passport for the duration of the visit.
7. Talk of a settlement. A later report said the two were still in court over visits and money and that his lawyer had offered to settle outside court.

We could not find a final judgment or any report after early 2023. So we cannot tell you how the case ended.

The public reaction

Her statement and the photographs that circulated afterwards caused a storm.

• Many actors, directors and musicians said publicly that they stood with her. Some said they would not work with him.
• He responded by sending legal notices to several of those who had spoken against him, saying they had defamed him.
• On social media the argument split along familiar lines. One side said a victim must be believed. The other said a man should not be punished before a court has decided.

Both instincts come from a real concern. Victims of abuse are often not believed, and that silence protects abusers. But public opinion is not a court, and reputations can be destroyed by claims that are later not proved. The only fair way through is a proper hearing of the evidence.

Why this case mattered beyond two people

Domestic violence is rarely discussed in public in Pakistan. Surveys over the years have found that a large share of married women report some form of violence from a husband, and that very few ever tell the police.

Three things made this case different.

1. The man was famous. Viewers knew his face from popular dramas.
2. She spoke in her own name. Most complaints never leave the family.
3. Documents were filed in court. The argument moved from social media to a judge.

Her old headline on this website called it “advocacy”. We did not find that she works with any organisation. What can be said is that her statement pushed many people to talk about a subject that is usually hidden.

Divorce in Pakistan: the basics

Many readers come to this story because they, or someone they love, are facing the same questions. So here is a plain guide to the law for Muslim couples. It is general information, not legal advice.

Three ways a marriage can end

Who keeps the children?

Pakistani law separates two ideas that people often mix up.

• Custody means who the child lives with day to day.
• Guardianship means who is legally responsible for the child’s property and big decisions. The father is normally the natural guardian even when the mother has custody.

For custody, the courts apply one test above all: the welfare of the child. In practice, young children usually stay with the mother. But a judge can decide otherwise if the child’s welfare needs it. The parent who does not have custody is normally given visiting rights.

Who pays for the children?

The father must pay for his children’s upkeep, whoever they live with. This is called maintenance. A family court can fix a temporary amount at the start of a case, as happened here, and a final amount later. The sum depends on the children’s needs and the father’s income.

What happens in a family court, step by step

Family cases follow a simpler path than ordinary civil cases. The outline below is typical.

1. The claim. One side files a written claim, for example for khula, custody or maintenance, in the family court of the district where the wife lives.
2. The reply. The court sends a notice to the other side, who files a written answer.
3. An attempt at reconciliation. Before hearing evidence, the judge must try to bring the two sides to an agreement. In a khula case, if this fails, the court dissolves the marriage at that stage.
4. Interim orders. For children, the court fixes temporary maintenance and visiting arrangements early, so that the children are not left waiting.
5. Evidence. Each side produces documents and witnesses, and the other side may question them.
6. Judgment. The court gives its decision. The law asks family courts to finish cases within about six months, though many take longer.
7. Appeal. Either side can appeal to a higher court.

A person can appear in a family court without a lawyer, but most people find one helpful.

The law on domestic violence

Pakistan has no single national law on domestic violence that covers every province. Each province has its own.

• Sindh passed its Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act in 2013. It covers Karachi, where this case was heard. It defines domestic violence widely to include physical, emotional and economic abuse, and lets a court issue protection orders.
• Punjab passed the Protection of Women against Violence Act in 2016. It set up protection centres and allows courts to order an abuser to stay away.
• Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have their own laws too.
• Separately, assault and causing injury are crimes everywhere under the Pakistan Penal Code.

What is a medico-legal report?

It is a medical certificate written by a government doctor for use in court. It records a person’s injuries and their likely cause soon after an incident. It is one of the most important pieces of evidence in any assault case. That is why the court in this case ordered that the medical papers be verified with the hospital.

Where to get help

If you or someone you know is facing violence at home, these steps are commonly advised by women’s rights groups.

1. If there is immediate danger, call the police emergency number, 15.
2. Call a helpline. The Ministry of Human Rights runs a national helpline on 1099 for legal advice and referrals. Provinces run their own women’s helplines as well.
3. See a doctor at a government hospital and ask for a medico-legal examination.
4. Keep records. Save messages, photographs and the names of anyone who saw what happened.
5. Speak to a lawyer or a legal aid group. Bar associations and several charities offer free help to women who cannot afford a lawyer.
6. Tell someone you trust. Isolation makes everything harder.

Helpline numbers change from time to time. Please check that a number is still working before you rely on it.

Words used in this story

How to read stories like this one fairly

Celebrity disputes spread quickly, and most of what spreads is opinion. A few habits help.

• Separate the claim from the finding. “She said” and “the court found” are different sentences.
• Look for dates. Old posts about this case are still shared as if they were new.
• Remember the children. Two young people will grow up and read all of this. That is one reason we have not named them.
• Be careful with screenshots. Private messages and photographs can be edited, and sharing them can itself break the law.
• Notice who is speaking. A lawyer’s statement outside a courtroom is one side’s argument. It is not the judge’s view, however confident it sounds.

Timeline

Why this story matters

• It opened a conversation. Many families do not talk about violence at home. A well-known case gave people the words.
• It showed how the legal system works, and how slowly. Evidence, verification, interim orders and appeals take months or years.
• It is a lesson in fairness. It is possible to take a woman’s account seriously and to wait for a court’s finding at the same time.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Gulf News, “Pakistani actor Feroze Khan confirms divorce from wife Syeda Aliza Sultan” — September 2022.
• Aaj English, “Actor Feroze Khan’s ex-wife accuses him of physical, mental abuse” — September 2022.
• Dawn Images, report on the medical evidence filed in court — October 2022.
• Dawn Images, “Family court orders verification of evidence filed by Feroze Khan’s ex-wife Aliza Sultan” — December 2022.
• Dawn Images, report on the custody and maintenance proceedings — 2022.
• Dawn Images, later report on the proceedings — early 2023.
• Jang, “Feroze Khan seeks custody rights of children following divorce” — September 2022.
• The Friday Times, “Celebrities condemn Feroze Khan” — 25 October 2022.