Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday criticized the Lahore High Court (LHC)’s suspension of the implementation of the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2025, warning the public will perceive the move as support for the “land-grabbing mafia.”
In a statement, she said the provincial government had enacted the law to provide relief to millions of citizens—some of whom have waited generations—to resolve property disputes. She noted the legislation had introduced a strict 90-day timeline for the resolution of land and property cases that otherwise linger for decades.
“The elected provincial assembly passed this law to free ordinary citizens from the grip of powerful land mafias,” she said, maintaining it had empowered people to protect their legally owned property.
Stating that suspending the law did not harm her personally or politically, she warned that it hampered the ability of the poor, widows, the helpless and the oppressed segments of society to secure justice. Emphasizing that it was the constitutional right of the provincial assembly to legislate, she said no one could curtail this.
Nawaz also argued that the court’s decision was not in line with well-established judicial principles, reiterating that the suspension directly benefited illegal occupiers. “The public will see this suspension as support for the qabza mafia,” she added.
The chief minister’s remarks followed LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum suspending the implementation of the ordinance during hearings on petitions challenging its legality. The judge has recommended the formation of a full bench to hear the matter and also ordered the repossession of properties that had been allocated under the suspended law.