Agreement for khula' between husband and wife whereby the latter gave up custody of their minor son

               U/s. 25-Contract Act(IX of 1872), U/s. 23 & 25-Custody of minor---Disabled mother with no substantial source of income---Hizanat, right of Scope--Agreement for khula' between husband and wife whereby the latter gave up custody of their minor son. Repugnancy of such agreement to Inunctions of Islam. Mother in whom right of hizanat vested could not be compelled to surrender it nor could such surrender constitute consideration for an agreement of khula'. Holy Quran, which enabled khula', did not contemplate surrendering a child's custody to secure khula' nor that it could constitute valid consideration for it. To insert such a condition in an agreement of khula' was contrary to the law, public policy, and the Injunctions of Islam. Such a stipulation would be void under S.25 of the Contract Act, 1872 because it was without consideration. Any agreement the object or consideration of which was against public policy was void, as stipulated in S.23 of the Contract Act, 1872. Family Judge came to a legally and factually correct decision that the child's welfare lay in the mother having his physical custody; that the mother's disability was not a factor that could deprive her of custody; and even if the mother was financially incapable to provide for the child, it was not her responsibility to do so but that of the father to maintain the child. Judgment of the Family Judge was upheld by the Appellate Court 

                    (PLD 2020 SC 508)