LAHORE — The Punjab Assembly will take up the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Ordinance 2026 on Tuesday, February 24, following a delay in Monday’s session due to lack of quorum. The ordinance, promulgated on February 17, aims to curb land grabbing and expedite resolution of property disputes.
The amendment introduces jail terms of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs10 million for illegal possession of immovable property. It mandates that cases be decided within 30 days, enhancing protection for lawful owners and streamlining adjudication through newly empowered district-level tribunals.
Under the ordinance, the Punjab Property Tribunal will be established in each district, presided over by a serving additional sessions judge. The tribunal holds exclusive jurisdiction over offences under the Act and questions of title. It is required to proceed on a day-to-day basis, concluding cases within 30 days of receiving a report from the district scrutiny committee, which will examine complaints, scrutinize records, summon relevant persons, and attempt amicable settlements.
The ordinance imposes a minimum five-year prison term, extendable to ten years, for anyone occupying property illegally through fraud, force, or coercion, along with financial penalties. Attempts or facilitation of such offences carry prison terms of one to three years and fines up to Rs1 million. The tribunal can also punish false or frivolous complaints with imprisonment of up to five years and fines of Rs500,000.
Additionally, any sale, lease, or mortgage of disputed property after filing a complaint will be null and void unless permitted by the tribunal. Appeals against final judgments will lie only before the Lahore High Court within 30 days, while interim orders remain non-appealable. Bail may only be granted by the high court, reinforcing the tribunal’s authority.
