ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has unanimously rejected the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act, 2025, which empowers deputy commissioner-led committees to decide property disputes.
A PBC meeting was held here on Saturday at the Supreme Court building with Ch Tahir Nasrullah Warraich, vice-chairman of the PBC, in the chair. The Pakistan Bar Council, apart from transacting other business on its agenda, also unanimously passed a resolution by rejecting and disapproving the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act, 2025.
The council condemned the Government of Punjab for passing this Act, stating that it was not only unconstitutional and unlawful but also in conflict with the provisions of Qanoon-e-Shahadat, Civil Procedure Code (CPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC), Evidence Act, Illegal dispossession Act and other relevant laws, and has made their provisions redundant. The council expressed that the matter has been challenged and the Lahore High Court has rightly suspended it.
Similarly, the council appreciated the chief justice Lahore High Court for passing the timely order that the new enactment has compromised established and settled legal parameters concerning property matters. It said the government has established a parallel jurisprudence whereby property disputes were to be resolved by deputy commissioners, district police officers, revenue officers and other relevant government officials, rather than through judicial proceedings, which by no means was lawful.
The council was of the view that the new law dismantled the civil setup, civil rights and judicial supremacy because a revenue officer hands over the possession of a property in a matter pending with a civil court, which appears that some people want to hold all powers, including judicial powers. It claimed the Government of Punjab started trolling and propaganda against the LHC CJ and judiciary, so the council condemned this onslaught. It expressed concerns over the conduct of Punjab government and the chief executive of the province, who, it stated, appear to be surrounded by aides protecting the interests of land mafia and grabbers, saying that the Act was passed to protect them.
The PBC emphasized that it was incumbent upon the judiciary to ensure that such unlawful practices were curbed and addressed appropriately, in the interest of justice, transparency and equity, as reflected in the order of the Lahore High Court. It expressed that the judiciary has the mandate/power to interpret any law, so the LHC CJ rightly suspended the enactment which undermined the powers of the judiciary.
Likewise, the PBC warned that the Punjab government should refrain from implementing the unlawful aspirations of land mafia. It unanimously demanded that the said Act might be recalled immediately and the Government of Punjab should apologise to the Lahore High Court for its insulting remarks and rude attitude.
The council reiterated that the legal fraternity stood by the Lahore High Court and would not allow anyone to compromise the integrity of judiciary and if the needful was not done within a few days, the lawyers community would launch a movement, says a press release issued by the PBC secretary.
