Property ordinance petitions sent to larger bench

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday referred all petitions challenging the Property Ownership Ordinance to a larger bench for authoritative adjudication on key legal questions.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum, while hearing petitions filed by citizen Mushtaq Ahmed and others, issued notices to the Punjab government and other respondents, directing them to submit their replies.

During the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned whether possession of property was being handed over with the consent of both parties. She observed that if mutual consent existed, such matters would not reach the High Court.

Appearing on behalf

of the Punjab government, the Assistant Advocate General conceded that rules under the ordinance had not yet been framed.