CM Punjab directs to establish dispute resolution committees to decide property possession cases

LAHORE: Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that no one will now snatch anyone’s land in Punjab, as the state stands by every weak person like a mother.

She added that whoever owns a property has a right to possess it. She highlighted that for a common man, a small property or land is like a whole universe, but unfortunately mafia encroaches upon it.

She reined in the encroachment mafia in Punjab forever by approving the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance 2025 to deal with those who encroach upon the properties of people in Punjab.

She decided to establish dispute resolution committees for the petitioners who have been going to courts for years to reclaim their land.

She highlighted that every possession case in Punjab will now be decided by Dispute Resolution Committees in just 90 days. Appeal against the decision of the Dispute Resolution Committee will be heard by a special tribunal headed by a retired judge of the High Court, who will also be bound to decide the appeal within 90 days.

In a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, it was agreed to establish a Dispute Resolution Committee in every district of Punjab under the new ordinance.

Authorities concerned briefed in the meeting that under the new justice system in Punjab, the Dispute Resolution Committee will resolve an issue of possession of private property even before going to court.

They said that in order to provide speedy justice to the people of Punjab who have been wandering around courts for years, the Dispute Resolution Committee will decide every possession case within 90 days.

The convener of the 6-member District Settlement Committee will be the Deputy Commissioner, while DPO and other officials will also be involved.

The meeting set a target of making Dispute Resolution Committees functional within 30 days. The Dispute Resolution Committee will be bound to recover land from the encroachment mafia within 24 hours after the decision of the case.

The meeting reviewed the recommendation to hire PERA force to recover land from those who have encroached on public property. A proposal regarding digital records and social media live streaming to ensure transparency was also considered in the meeting.