LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on Thursday expressed concern over the executive deciding complaints under newly enacted the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2025 related to already sub-judice matters.
Earlier, the chief justice removed office objections to a petition filed against the law, which empowers deputy commissioner-led committees to decide property disputes.
“What kind of mockery is this?” the chief justice asked the government’s law officer.
“Patwaris and ACs seem to have developed a desire to become judges,” the chief justice remarked, questioning the wisdom behind the impugned legislation.
Taunts ACs, patwaris, saying they should take law exams and formally become part of judicial system
Discussing the contents of the petition, the chief justice questioned the jurisdiction of a ‘patwari’ to take cognisance of a matter already pending before the Supreme Court.
She regretted that the same “patwaris and tehsildars” (land revenue officials) who are usually involved in preparing fake documents would now decide property disputes.
“Has Pakistan turned into a jungle?” Chief Justice Neelum observed with anger and maintained that the LHC would not let this injustice happen.
The chief justice remarked that if assistant commissioners and patwaris were so eager to become judges, they should take law exams and formally become part of the judicial system.
The chief justice also questioned the involvement of a newly-created force under the Punjab Enforcement Regulatory Authority (Pera) in such matters.
The chief justice issued notices on the petitions and directed the provincial government and other respondents to file written replies by Dec 22.
The petitioner stated that the DCs and ACs had been granted authority over property disputes under the newly-created impugned law.
He said that a property in Faisalabad had been taken on a 50-year lease and a case related to the property was already pending before the Supreme Court.
Despite this, he said, the opposing party filed an application before the Faisalabad DC under the new law.
The DC subsequently ordered the sealing of the property, he added, asking the court to declare the DC’s decision null and void.
Model courts: The model district courts across Punjab have decided 9,512 cases during last month.
According to the monthly performance report, the criminal model courts concluded 781 cases, which included 103 murder trials, 298 narcotics-related cases and 380 matters concerning illegal land occupation and other offenses.
Simultaneously, the appellate model courts, presided over by additional district judges, issued verdicts in 247 cases, spanning civil and family appeals as well as revision petitions.
The model civil and magisterial courts collectively disposed of 8,484 cases.
Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2025
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