LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has delivered an important judgment regarding property disputes of overseas Pakistanis, ruling that all such cases will be heard by special courts.
The court rejected objections that special courts were not competent to hear these cases and clarified that their jurisdiction is not limited only to possession or ownership disputes.
According to the verdict, all types of property-related matters involving overseas Pakistanis will fall under the jurisdiction of special courts, including inheritance cases, property transfers, powers of attorney, and disputes related to both movable and immovable assets.
The court noted that the purpose of the relevant law is to protect the property rights of overseas Pakistanis. It observed that earlier interpretations by civil and special courts had incorrectly limited the scope of the law, resulting in unnecessary delays and procedural confusion.
The judgment emphasized that cases should not be shifted back and forth between courts, and if even one party is an overseas Pakistani, the matter must be heard by a special court.
It stated that cases transferred from civil courts will continue from the same stage in special courts, and there will be no need for re-filing.
The court described the special court system as an independent and dedicated forum for resolving overseas Pakistanis’ property disputes efficiently.
