Law ministry hails women’s property act
Law empowers ombudsman to take appropriate action to protect women’s rights of ownership
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Law and Justice has termed the implementation of the Women’s Property Rights Act 2020 as the most important step towards empowering the women.
The government and the Ministry of Law and Justice reached a milestone on February 14, 2020 when Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Bill (now an Act) 2020 received the Senate’s nod.
The act empowers the ombudsman to take appropriate action to protect and secure women’s rights of ownership of property.
Now, any woman, who is deprived of ownership or possession of her property by any means, can file a complaint to the ombudsman, if no proceedings regarding that property are pending in a court of law.
In case, the woman deprived of her property is unable to do so, any other person or NGO may initiate action on her behalf. The ombudsman, after preliminary assessment, will direct the matter to the concerned deputy commissioner.
The deputy commissioner will then conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the ombudsman within 15 days following which the ombudsman may call for further record or submission of objections by the complainant and her adversaries.
The ombudsman will preferably pass the orders within 60 days of receipt of the complaint.
The role of ombudsman does not end here but he or she will ensure implementation of the orders by directing the police and district administration officials to restore possession and title of the property to the complainant.
No court or authority will be able to question the validity of action taken or grant a stay or interim order after orders by ombudsman have been passed. Under Article 23 of the Constitution, it is the citizens’ right to acquire, hold and dispose of property in any part of Pakistan.
Since it applies to all the citizens, there is no differentiation of man and woman.
The rights of ownership of women in inheritance are usually violated by their family members by means of coercion, fraud, fabrication, forgery and cheating.
The Ministry of Law and Justice has termed the implementation of the Women’s Property Rights Act 2020 as the most important step towards empowering the women.
The government and the Ministry of Law and Justice reached a milestone on February 14, 2020 when Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Bill (now an Act) 2020 received the Senate’s nod.
The act empowers the ombudsman to take appropriate action to protect and secure women’s rights of ownership of property.
Now, any woman, who is deprived of ownership or possession of her property by any means, can file a complaint to the ombudsman, if no proceedings regarding that property are pending in a court of law.
In case, the woman deprived of her property is unable to do so, any other person or NGO may initiate action on her behalf. The ombudsman, after preliminary assessment, will direct the matter to the concerned deputy commissioner.
The deputy commissioner will then conduct an inquiry and submit a report to the ombudsman within 15 days following which the ombudsman may call for further record or submission of objections by the complainant and her adversaries.
The ombudsman will preferably pass the orders within 60 days of receipt of the complaint.
The role of ombudsman does not end here but he or she will ensure implementation of the orders by directing the police and district administration officials to restore possession and title of the property to the complainant.
No court or authority will be able to question the validity of action taken or grant a stay or interim order after orders by ombudsman have been passed. Under Article 23 of the Constitution, it is the citizens’ right to acquire, hold and dispose of property in any part of Pakistan.
Since it applies to all the citizens, there is no differentiation of man and woman.
The rights of ownership of women in inheritance are usually violated by their family members by means of coercion, fraud, fabrication, forgery and cheating.