ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has unanimously rejected the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act, 2025, warning the PML-N Punjab government to desist from what it called the “illegal aspirations of the land mafias”.
The decision was taken during the 247th meeting of the PBC, which was held on Saturday at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad, with Deputy Chairman Chaudhry Tahir Nasrullah Warraich in the chair.
In a strongly worded resolution, the PBC condemned the Punjab government for passing the law, declaring it unconstitutional, illegal and in direct violation of established legal frameworks, including the Qanoon-e-Shahadat, Civil Procedure Code (CPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Evidence Act, Illegal Disposession Act, and other relevant law on prosecution.
The council noted that the law empowers deputy commissioner-led committees to adjudicate property disputes, a move it said undermines judicial authority and renders existing legal provisions redundant. It added that the case has already been challenged before the Lahore High Court (LHC), which has rightly suspended the law.
The PBC praised LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum for issuing what it described as a timely order, noting that the new law compromise settled legal principles for property disputes.
According to the council, the law establishes a parallel system where administrative officials – including deputy commissioners, police officers and tax authorities – are tasked with resolving disputes that should fall exclusively within the domain of the judiciary.
“This law dismantles the civil justice system, civil rights and judicial supremacy,” said the resolution, which expressed concern that tax authorities could hand over possession of disputed properties even when cases are pending in civil courts.
The council also condemned what it called a trolling and propaganda campaign by Punjab against the judiciary following the suspension of the act.
It expressed serious concern over the conduct of the provincial government and its leadership and claimed that the law was passed to protect land mafias and land grabbers.
The PBC emphasized the judiciary’s constitutional mandate to interpret laws and argued that the LHC acted within its powers by suspending legislation that undermines judicial authority.
The PBC demanded an immediate withdrawal of the law and called on the Punjab government to issue an apology to the LHC over what it termed insulting remarks and an inappropriate attitude.
Warning of possible agitation, the council said the legal fraternity stands firm with the judiciary and will not allow any compromise on its independence, adding that lawyers may launch a movement if corrective steps are not taken in the next few days.
LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on December 23 issued an interim order suspending the operation of the recently passed Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2025, which empowers deputy commissioner-led committees to settle property disputes.
Justice Neelum made the order during a hearing on petitions filed by Abida Parveen and others challenging decisions regarding property disputes taken under the ordinance. The LHC also suspended decisions made under the new legislation to remove possession of properties.
On 24 December, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed reservations about the LHC’s decision, arguing that the move would “benefit encroachment and land-grabbing mafias”. Some other provincial ministers also criticized the order.
But the LHC bench on Friday overturned the decisions of deputy commissioner-led committees that gave possession of properties to people in 10 districts of Punjab under the new law.
