E-filing rules ease property cases overseas

Overseas Pakistanis can file, attend hearings remotely

LAHORE:

The government has issued the E-Filing Rules 2026 for property-related cases involving overseas Pakistanis, introducing an online system for filing property-related petitions, submitting documents and accessing court proceedings.

Under the new rules, overseas Pakistanis can file applications and submit relevant documents electronically before designated special courts without needing to appear physically for every procedural step.

The rules also provide for hearings through video link, allowing overseas litigants to participate in court proceedings remotely. Electronic notices will be served to overseas Pakistanis, and various judicial facilities will also be available through the online system.

Court judgments and decrees will be uploaded on the designated online portal, enabling litigants to access them electronically. The rules also prescribe a mechanism for preserving electronic evidence and maintaining court records in digital form.

The rules allow paper filing in specified circumstances where electronic filing is not possible. An alternative filing mechanism is prescribed for disruptions in the online system, ensuring litigants are not deprived of access to the courts due to a system malfunction.

The new framework is aimed at facilitating overseas Pakistanis involved in property disputes by reducing the need for physical visits to Pakistan and providing them greater access to judicial proceedings through digital means.