LAHORE (MNN); The Punjab Assembly is set to deliberate on Tuesday, February 24, the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Ordinance 2026, aimed at curbing land grabbing and expediting the resolution of property disputes.
Although the ordinance was included in Monday’s agenda, it could not be presented due to a lack of quorum.
Promulgated on February 17, the amended ordinance proposes stringent penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines reaching Rs10 million for illegal occupation of immovable property. It also mandates that cases be decided within 30 days.
The ordinance revises the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act, 2025, whose implementation had been suspended last year by the Lahore High Court. The amendments are designed to enhance safeguards for lawful property owners and accelerate adjudication through newly empowered district-level tribunals.
A major reform under the ordinance is the establishment of a Punjab Property Tribunal in each district. Each tribunal will be headed by a serving additional sessions judge and will have exclusive authority to try offences under the Act and decide matters related to property titles. Previously, retired sessions judges were to be appointed for this role.
The tribunals will be required to conduct proceedings on a day-to-day basis and conclude cases within 30 days of receiving a report from the scrutiny committee. Adjournments will be limited to no more than seven days at a time.
The ordinance also clarifies that tribunals will not take up cases already under hearing before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the Federal Constitutional Court or the Lahore High Court.
District scrutiny committees, headed by deputy commissioners and comprising senior police and revenue officials, will review complaints, examine records, summon relevant individuals and attempt amicable settlements within 30 days before forwarding their findings to the tribunal.
Under the new provisions, anyone found directly or indirectly occupying property through fraud, force, coercion, forgery or misrepresentation will face a minimum sentence of five years, extendable to ten years, along with substantial fines. Attempts, abetment or facilitation of such offences may result in one to three years’ imprisonment and fines of up to Rs1 million.
To discourage misuse of the law, tribunals will have the authority to penalise false or malicious complaints with imprisonment of up to five years and fines up to Rs500,000.
Tribunals may also grant monetary compensation to lawful owners, not less than the officially notified value of the property, and recover any profits earned through illegal possession.
The ordinance further stipulates that any sale, lease, gift, mortgage or other transfer of disputed property after the filing of a complaint will be considered void unless specifically authorised by the tribunal.
Appeals against final judgments may be filed only before the Lahore High Court within 30 days, while interim orders will not be appealable. Bail for accused individuals arrested under the ordinance may be granted solely by the high court, reinforcing the tribunal system’s authority.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, the amendments seek to strengthen the legal framework for protecting property rights, ensure swift dispute resolution, enhance penalties to deter unlawful occupation and remove outdated provisions to establish a more effective enforcement mechanism across Punjab.
