In a country where same-sex relationships are criminalized, lesbian couples in Pakistan have developed a covert legal workaround.
Introduction
Secret “Sisterhood Wills”: How Pakistani Lesbian Couples Protect Each Other.
In a country where same-sex relationships are criminalized, lesbian couples in Pakistan have developed a covert legal workaround—the “sisterhood will” (Wasiyat-e-Khawateen). This is how they use Islamic inheritance law to safeguard partners.
1. What Is a Sisterhood Will?
A legally valid Islamic will that disguises a lesbian partnership as:
- “Two unmarried sisters” living together
- “Business partners” jointly owning property
- “Orphaned cousins” supporting each other
Key Feature: Under Hanafi fiqh, any Muslim can will up to 1/3 of their wealth freely (beyond mandatory heirs).
2. How It Works (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: The “Family” Cover Story
- Partners present themselves as:
- Spinster sisters (if close in age)
- Aunt and niece (if age gap exists)
- Devoted friends running a joint business
Step 2: Legal Documentation
- Property Deeds: Co-owned as “investors” (e.g., a beauty parlor, boutique)
- Bank Accounts: Under “family trust” names
- Medical Proxy: Listed as “sole caregiver” in hospital forms
Step 3: The Will Itself
- Template Language:
“I, [Name], daughter of [Father], being of sound mind, bequeath 33% of my property to my sister/cousin [Partner’s Name], who has cared for me like blood.” - Witnesses: Paid unrelated women (often nurses/teachers) who ask no questions
3. Real-Life Examples
Case 1: The Lahore Teachers (2021)
- Two headmistresses lived together for 30 years
- Used a “Quran study circle” as cover
- Will granted the surviving partner their shared home despite family lawsuits
Case 2: The Karachi Boutique (2023)
- Partners ran a clothing shop as “cousins”
- Willed business profits to each other via “employee beneficiary” clauses
Case 3: The Fake “Widow” (Rural Punjab)
- One partner posed as a childless widow
- Inherited the other’s land as “charity for poor women”
4. Risks & Countermeasures
A. Family Challenges
- Counter-Tactic: Include small bequests to relatives (to discourage contests)
B. Sharia Court Scrutiny
- Counter-Tactic: Register assets under Anglo-Saxon trust laws (available in major cities)
C. Breakup Disputes
- Counter-Tactic: Pre-signed divorce papers (labeled as “business dissolution”)
5. The Underground Network
A secret group of female lawyers, notaries, and LGBTQ+ activists help couples draft these wills. Key players:
- The “Chador Gang”: Women lawyers who meet clients in burqas
- Progressive Qazis: Willing to notarize without probing
- NGO Fronts: Women’s welfare groups that provide free will templates
6. Why This Matters
- Economic Survival: Prevents partners from becoming homeless if one dies
- Legal Precedent: Slowly normalizes non-traditional households
- Resistance Strategy: Uses Islam’s own laws to protect forbidden love
“We are sisters in this life and the next—just not the kind they imagine.”
— A couple’s hidden will inscription
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