LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has designated additional district and sessions judges (AD&SJs) as tribunals in all districts of Punjab to hear complaints under the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2026.

According to a notification issued by the Directorate of District Judiciary, LHC, the appointments were made with the approval of Chief Justice Aalia Neelum.

The designated judicial officers will function as tribunals for their respective districts to hear and decide matters arising under the newly-promulgated ordinance aimed at protecting ownership rights in immovable properties.

Under this law, obtaining or retaining property by fraud, forgery, or force carries five to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fines up to Rs10 million.

36 judges tasked with deciding illegal occupation; retaining/obtaining property through fraud, forgery or force carries up to 10-year RI and fines up to Rs10m

Within three days of the receipt of a complaint, the tribunal shall refer it to a deputy commissioner-led committee seeking for probe, scrutiny and encouraging and facilitating an amicable resolution and submission of its report within 30 days.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum had on Dec 22 last year suspended the operation of the law, taking notice of powers entrusted to “patwaris” (revenue officials) to take cognisance of matters already pending before courts.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had criticised the court’s decision, saying the suspension of the law would benefit the land mafia. The lawyers’ bodies, irrespective of their political affiliation, supported the high court’s decision.

Later, the provincial government introduced amendments to the law and the high court recalled the stay, referring the petitions to the relevant sessions judges.The notification states that the appointments were made in response to a request from the Punjab government’s Implementation and Coordination Wing of the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD).

The ordinance was introduced to provide a dedicated legal mechanism for addressing disputes relating to illegal occupation, fraudulent transfers and other violations affecting ownership of immovable property.

Under Section 11 of the ordinance, the government may establish tribunals for speedy adjudication of such cases, while the high court is empowered to designate judicial officers to perform the functions of these tribunals.

A total of 36 AD&SJs have been assigned tribunal responsibilities in districts across Punjab.

The designated officers include Nadeem Ahmad Sohail Cheema for Attock, Muhammad Salabat Javed for Bahawalnagar, Sahir Islam for Bahawalpur, Muhammad Azam Javed for Bhakkar, Naeem Abbas for Chiniot and Qasim Ali Bhatti for Chakwal.

Other include Sarfraz Hussain for Dera Ghazi Khan, Imran Shafi Khan for Faisalabad, Muhammad Farhan Nabi for Gujranwala, Muzaffar Nawaz Malik for Gujrat, Umar Rasheed for Hafizabad, Umer Farooq Khan for Jhang and Mirza Aurangzeb Khan for Jhelum.

The list further names Muhammad Ashfaq for Kasur, Abdullah Usman for Khanewal, Muhammad Bashir for Khushab, Muhammad Ayyaz for Lodhran, Saifullah Sohal for Lahore, Muhammad Pervaiz Nawaz for Layyah, Muhammad Fakhir Aftab Ahmad for Mandi Bahauddin and Abdul Ghafoor for Mianwali.

Ghazala Yasmeen has been designated for Lodhran, Saifullah Sohal for Lahore, Muhammad Pervaiz Nawaz for Layyah, Muhammad Fakhir Aftab Ahmad for Mandi Bahauddin and Abdul Ghafoor for Mianwali.

Ghazala Yasmeen has been designated for Multan, Muhammad Ahmad Husnain Khan for Muzaffargarh, Alam Shair for Narowal, Ahmed Mujahid Sherdil Cheema for Nankana Sahib, Khalil Ahmad Khan for Okara, Asad Hafeez for Pakpattan, Chaudhry Qasim Javed for Rawalpindi, Muhammad Ashraf for Rajanpur, Muhammad Bilal for Rahim Yar Khan and Muhammad Naeem for Sahiwal.

The remaining appointments include Abid Raza Khan for Sialkot, Hafiz Abdul Hameed for Sheikhupura, Zafar Hayat for Sargodha, Muhammad Kashif for Toba Tek Singh and Muhammad Umar for Vehari.The designation of tribunals is expected to facilitate the implementation of the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2026, by providing a district-level forum for the expeditious resolution of property ownership disputes and related complaints.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026