Pakistan Bar Council unanimously rejects the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act, 2025
The controversial Act must be withdrawn immediately; if the demands are not accepted, lawyers will be forced to launch a movement, says the Pakistan Bar Council.
LAHORE ( WEB NEWS )
In its 247th meeting, the Pakistan Bar Council strongly condemned the Punjab government and unanimously rejected the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act, 2025. In a statement, the Pakistan Bar Council demanded that the Punjab government refrain from unlawful ambitions and immediately withdraw the controversial Act.
The Pakistan Bar Council stated that the Punjab government should apologize to the Lahore High Court, declaring the disputed law unconstitutional, illegal, and in conflict with the judicial system. The Council said the Act contradicts the Law of Evidence, the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), and other relevant laws.
The Pakistan Bar Council termed the Lahore High Court’s decision to suspend the law as correct, stating that the new law is an attempt to establish a parallel system to the judicial system. It said that assigning property disputes to administrative officers instead of the judiciary is illegal, and that the new law weakens civil rights and the supremacy of the judiciary.
The Pakistan Bar Council further condemned the campaign launched by the Punjab government against the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, stating that the government’s conduct amounts to contempt of the judiciary. It added that the law was enacted to protect the interests of land mafia and illegal occupier groups, and that the judiciary has full authority to stop unlawful actions.
In its statement, the Pakistan Bar Council said that the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court took the correct step to safeguard judicial powers, and that the legal community stands with the Lahore High Court. The Council emphasized that no compromise on the independence of the judiciary will be accepted, and warned that if its demands are not met, lawyers will be compelled to launch a movement.