Lahore (Bureau Report):
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has strongly reacted to the suspension of the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Bill 2025, a law aimed at resolving long-standing property disputes within 90 days.
In a statement, Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government had introduced the legislation to provide relief to millions of Punjab residents who had been suffering for years and even generations due to prolonged property litigation. She maintained that the court’s decision to suspend the law was not in line with well-established principles set by the superior judiciary.
The chief minister said the law was passed by the people’s elected assembly to free citizens from the grip of powerful land mafias. She added that for the first time, the legislation empowered ordinary people to protect their legally owned land and property.
Maryam Nawaz warned that the suspension of the law would benefit land grabbers and the qabza mafia, and that the public would perceive the move as backing such elements. She emphasized that the law was designed to protect the oppressed and included all administrative and legal aspects in a comprehensive manner.
Highlighting flaws in the existing system, she said property cases often remain under stay orders for decades. She clarified that the law was not introduced for her personal benefit and that its suspension had caused her no personal loss. However, she stressed that the real damage would be borne by citizens who had long been victims of illegal occupation and exploitation.
The chief minister further stated that legislation is the constitutional right of the provincial assembly and cannot be curtailed. She reiterated that blocking the law would not harm her personally but would adversely affect the poor, the needy, widows, and other vulnerable segments of society who were finally receiving justice under the new legal framework.