ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) has unanimously rejected the Punjab Protection of Immovable Property Act, 2025, warning the PML-N government in Punjab to refrain from what it calls “illegal aspirations of land mafias”.
The decision was taken at the 247th meeting of the PBC, held on Saturday at the Supreme Court building in Islamabad, under the chairmanship of Vice President Chaudhry Tahir Nasrullah Warraich.
In a strongly worded resolution, the PBC condemned the Punjab government for passing the law, stating that it was unconstitutional, illegal and in direct conflict with established legal frameworks, including the Qanoon-e-Shahadat, Civil Procedure Code (CPC), Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), Evidence Act, Unlawful Dispossession Act and other relevant laws.
The council noted that the law empowers committees headed by deputy commissioners to adjudicate property disputes, a move it said undermines judicial authority and renders existing legal provisions redundant. He adds that the matter has already been contested in the Lahore High Court (LHC), which rightly stayed the implementation of the law.
The PBC commended LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum for issuing what she described as a timely order, observing that the new law undermines established legal principles governing property disputes.
According to the council, the law establishes a parallel system in which administrative officers – including deputy commissioners, police officers and tax officials – are responsible for resolving disputes that should fall exclusively within the judicial domain.
“This law dismantles the civil justice system, civil rights, and judicial supremacy,” the resolution said, expressing concern that tax officials could hand over possession of disputed properties even when cases are pending in civil courts.
The council also condemned what it termed as trolling and propaganda campaign carried out by the Punjab government against the judiciary following the suspension of the law.
He expressed serious concerns over the conduct of the provincial government and its leaders, alleging that the law was passed to protect land mafias and land grabbers.
Highlighting the constitutional mandate of the judiciary to interpret laws, the PBC asserted that the LHC acted within its powers in suspending laws that undermine judicial authority.
The PBC demanded immediate withdrawal of the law and called on the Punjab government to apologize to the LHC for what it termed as insulting remarks and inappropriate attitude.
Warning of possible unrest, the council said the legal community stood firmly with the judiciary and would not allow any compromise on its independence, adding that lawyers may launch a movement if remedial measures are not taken in the coming days.
LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on December 23 issued an interim order suspending the operation of the new Punjab Protection of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2025, which empowers committees headed by deputy commissioners to adjudicate property disputes.
Justice Neelum made the ruling during a hearing on petitions filed by Abida Parveen and others challenging property dispute rulings made under the ordinance. The LHC also suspended decisions made under the new legislation to remove possession of properties.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on December 24 expressed reservations over the LHC’s decision, arguing that the move would “benefit encroachment and land-grabbing mafias”. Some other provincial ministers also criticized the order.
However, the LHC bench on Friday set aside the decisions of committees headed by deputy commissioners that granted possession of properties to residents of 10 districts of Punjab under the new law.
