TOBA TEK SINGH: A national seminar titled “Proceedings and Practices on Women’s Land Rights Cases in the Revenue Department, Punjab” was held at the Government College University Faisalabad (GCUF) as part of a Higher Education Commission-funded project “Women’s Land Rights in Pakistan: Laws, Policy and Practices”.

The event was organised by Dr Mazhar Abbas, principal investigator of the research project and lecturer in history at GCUF.

Chiniot Assistant Commissioner Ashfaq Rasool spoke about the procedures within the revenue department concerning women’s land rights, especially in the context of inheritance. He said land is supposed to be transferred upon the death of the owner, whether it is a father, mother or husband. However, he added, social pressures often prevent women from claiming their rightful inheritance, with many surrendering their shares to male siblings.

Those who do assert their rights, he said, often face denial due to unethical family practices and collusion with corrupt revenue officials.

Citing a case from Gujranwala, Mr Rasool shared how two women were deprived of their inheritance when their brothers, in collusion with revenue officials, forged documents to show that the property had been transferred to them through sale and purchase. The father had intended to pass the property to his daughters.

On the women’s application, Mr Rasool intervened, exposed the forgery, and ensured the rightful transfer of property to them.

Dr Abbas addressed the broader cultural issues surrounding women’s land rights, arguing that land symbolises power in Pakistani society, which often leads men to resist giving property shares to women.

He said the denial of women’s land rights undermines gender equality by limiting their autonomy and development.

He called for a shift in male attitudes and stressed the need for reform in the revenue department to safeguard women’s inheritance rights.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2025