PUNJAB PROTECTION OF OWNERSHIP OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY ACT 2025

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THE PUNJAB PROTECTION OF OWNERSHIP OF 
IMMOVABLE PROPERTY ACT 2025 
(CI of 2025) 
CONTENTS 
1. Short title, extent and commencement 
2. Definitions 
3. Overriding effect 
4. Illegal possession 
5. Punishment for attempt, abetment, etc. 
6. [Omitted] 
7. Filing of complaint 
8. Scrutiny Committee 
9. Preventive measures 
10. Interim relief 
11. Punjab Property Tribunal 
12. [Omitted] 
13. Exclusive jurisdiction of Tribunal 
14. [Omitted] 
15. Tribunal to have the powers of a civil court and a court of sessions 
16. Procedure of the Tribunal 
17. [Omitted] 
18. Delivery or restoration of possession to lawful owner 
19. Appeal 
20. Prohibition of alienation 
21. [Omitted] 
22. [Omitted] 
23. Public Prosecutor 
24. Indemnity 
2 
 
25. Power to make rules 
26. Removal of difficulties 
27. Repeal and saving 
 
 
  
3 
 
TEXT 
1
THE PUNJAB PROTECTION OF OWNERSHIP OF IMMOVABLE 
PROPERTY ACT 2025 
(Cl of 2025) 
[18 December 2025] 
An 
Act 
to protect lawful ownership of immovable property in the Punjab. 
It is necessary to protect lawful ownership of immovable property and to  provide 
effective legal remedies against dispossession of  a lawful owner from his 
immovable property and to provide a mechanism for expeditious resolution of 
disputes arising therefrom and for the matters connected therewith and ancillary 
thereto. 
It is hereby enacted by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab as follows: 
1. Short title, extent and commencement .– (1) This Act may be cited as the 
Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Act 2025. 
(2) It extends to whole of the Punjab. 
(3) It shall come into force at once.  
2. Definitions.– In the Act: 
(a) “Act” means the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable 
Property Act 2025; 
2
[(aa) “accused”  means any person and includes a company, corporation, 
partnership or firm, sole proprietorship, society, trust, a group or body 
of persons, an association, a religious or charitable institution or 
endowment or any entity, whatsoever, whether incorporated or not; 
and in the case of such an accused, the subscriber, promoter, 
sponsor, member, guarantor, chairman, chief executive, managing 
director, director, partner, ultimate beneficial owner, manager, 
secretary, trustee, governor, sole proprietor, officer, o wner or anyone, 
by whatever name called, or who is in any way in charge of, or is 
responsible for, or is exercising direction or control of the affairs of 
such an accused for the conduct of its business, whatsoever;] 
(b) “Committee” means the 
3
[Scrutiny] Committee provided under section 
8 of the Act; 
(c) “Government” means Government of the Punjab; 
                                                           
1This Act was passed by Provincial Assembly of the Punjab on 08 December 2025; and was assented to by Governor of the 
Punjab on 17 December 2025; and was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 18 December 2025, pp. 
3269-3276. 
2Inserted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026  (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.2 (a). 
3Substituted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.2 (b). 
4 
 
(d) “immovable property ” includes land, building, benefit to arise out of 
land, things attached to the earth, or permanently fastened to anything 
attached to the earth, but does not include: 
(i) standing trees, crops or grass whether immediate severance 
thereof is intended or not; 
(ii) fruit upon and juice in trees whether in existence or to grow in 
future; and 
(iii) machinery embedded in or attached to the earth, when dealt 
with apart from the land; 
           
4
[(e)      “Judge” means the Presiding Officer designated for the Tribunal;] 
5
[(f)  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * *] 
(g) “prescribed” means prescribed by the rules;  
(h) “rules” means rules made under the Act; and 
(i)  “Tribunal” means the  
6
[Punjab Property] Tribunal established under 
section 11 of the Act. 
3. Overriding effect .– Notwithstanding anything, contained to the contrary in 
any other law for the time being in force, the provisions of the Act shall override the 
provisions of such other law. 
7
[4.      Illegal possession.– An accused who, whether himself or through any other 
accused, obtains or retains possession of any immovable property without lawful 
authority or lawful means or through fraud, deceit, cheating, dishonesty, forgery, 
misrepresentation, intimidation, force, coercion or any other illegal means, shall be 
guilty of an offence, which shall be punished with imprisonment for a te rm which 
may extend to ten years but not less than five years or with fine which may extend 
to ten million rupees or with both.] 
8
[5. Punishment for attempt, abetment, etc .– Any person who attempts, aids, 
abets, facilitates or conspires for the commission of an offence under the Act shall 
be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years but not 
less than one year or with fine which may extend to one million rupees or with both.] 
9
[6.  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *] 
10
[7. Filing of complaint .– (1) A complaint for an offence under the Act may be 
filed by the lawful owner of the immovable property before the Tribunal constituted 
                                                           
4Substituted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.2 (c). 
5Omitted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.2 (d). 
6Inserted by th e Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.2 (e). 
7Substituted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.3. 
8Substituted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.4. 
9Omitted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.5. 
5 
 
under section 11 having territorial jur isdiction over the area in which the immovable 
property is situated. 
(2) The complaint shall include: 
(a) sufficient particulars to identify the immovable property; 
(b) material facts alleged to constitute an offence under the Act;  
(c) evidence of lawful title or lawful ownership, as the case may be; and  
(d) particulars of the alleged accused, so far as known to the 
complainant. 
(3) Within three days of the receipt of a complaint, the Tribunal shall refer 
it to the Committee for probe, scrutiny and encouraging and facili tating an amicable 
resolution thereof and submission of its report within thirty days of referral thereto.] 
11
[8. Scrutiny Committee .– (1) For each district, there shall be a Scrutiny 
Committee which shall consist of: 
(a) Deputy Commissioner (Convener); 
(b) District Police Officer; 
(c) Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue); 
(d) Assistant Commissioner concerned;  
(e) Sub-Divisional Police Officer concerned; 
(f) Circle Revenue Officer concerned; 
(g) Officer-in-charge of the police station concerned; and 
(h) an officer of any agency  of the Government, to be co -opted by the 
Committee. 
(2) For the purposes provided in su b-section (3) of section 7, the 
Committee may: 
(a) scrutinize relevant record and afford an opportunity of    hearing to the 
persons concerned; 
(b) require attendance of any person and require such person to provide 
information relevant to the complaint; 
(c) call for requisition and examine any record or document from any 
office of the Government or any public authority; 
(d) record statements of persons appearing before it, through th e Officer-
in-charge of the police station concerned; and 
(e) encourage and facilitate an amicable resolution of disputes. 
(3) The Officer -in-charge of the police station concerned shall be 
responsible for, inter alia , ensuring attendance of any person, recording of the 
statement of any person, seizure memos and collecting all the record. 
                                                                                                                                                                                  
10Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6080, s.6. 
11Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6081, s.7.  
6 
 
(4) The Committee shall finalize and submit its report along with all 
relevant record, through the Circle Revenue Officer concerned and Officer -in-
charge of the police -station concerned, to the Tribunal, within thirty days from the 
date of referral of the complaint from the Tribunal; 
Provided that the Circle Revenue Officer concerned shall be the focal person 
to liaise with the Tribunal throughout the proceedings, who sha ll appear as a 
witness along with the Officer -in-charge of the police station concerned, for and on 
behalf of the Committee, and other Members of the Committee shall not be called 
as witnesses. 
(5) In case, the dispute has been amicably resolved, or the pa rties have 
arrived at a compromise, the Committee shall reduce it into writing and send the 
same to the Tribunal for its approval and for passing of judgment and decree 
thereupon and restoration of possession to the lawful owner on such terms and 
conditions as to compensation or otherwise as may be deemed appropriate by the 
Tribunal. 
(6) The parties shall appear before the Committee in person: 
Provided that if a party is unable to appear in person, the Committee may, 
on the written request of such party, al low appearance through electronic means 
subject to his biometric verification.] 
12
[9. Preventive measures .– (1) In case, a lawful owner of an immovable 
property apprehends commission of an offence under the Act, he may file 
application before the Tribunal, having territorial jurisdiction over the area in which 
the immovable property is situated, for taking preventive measures. 
(2) On receipt of an application under sub -section (1), the Tribunal may 
summon the parties in person, and after examining the releva nt record and hearing 
the parties, pass such order as it may deem fit and appropriate and such order may 
include taking reasonable and adequate surety or guarantee from the party 
concerned or sealing of the property.] 
13
[10. Interim relief.– (1)  During pendency of the case, the Tribunal may, at any 
stage, pass any interim order to regulate the possession of the immovable property, 
and pass such other orders, as it may deem fit and appropriate. 
(2) For the purposes of securing compliance with any order ma de under 
sub-section (1), the Tribunal may issue appropriate directions to the Officer -in-
charge of the police station or authorize any functionary, or officer, or official, o r 
authority of the Government.] 
14
[11. Punjab Property Tribunal.– (1) The Government may, by notification in the 
official Gazette, constitute the Punjab Property Tribunal for each district in the 
Punjab under the Act, and may, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Lahore 
High Court, designate Judge of the Tribunal amongst the se rving Additional 
Sessions Judges, for all the districts in the Punjab, as it may specify.  
                                                           
12Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6081, s.8. 
13Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6081, s.9. 
14Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6082, s.10. 
7 
 
(2) An Additional Sessions Judge so designated under sub -section (1) 
shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction, powers and functions conferred upon the 
Tribunal by or under the Act. 
(3) The Government may constitute more than one Tribunal for a district 
and, where more than one Tribunal is so constituted, it shall specify the territorial 
limits within which each of such Tribunal shall exercise its respective jurisdiction 
under the Act.] 
15
[12. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *] 
16
[13. Exclusive jurisdiction of Tribunal .– (1) Notwithstanding anything 
contained in any other law fo r the time being in force, the Tribunal shall have 
exclusive jurisdiction to try the offences under the Act.  
(2) While trying any offence under the Act, the Tribunal may also try any 
other offence with which the alleged accused may, under the Code of Criminal  
Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898), be charged, at the same trial if the offence is 
connected with such other offence.] 
17
[14. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *]   
15. Tribunal to have the powers of a civil court and a court of sessions .– 
Save as otherwise expressly provided in the Act, the provisions of the Code of Civil 
Procedure, 1908 (V of 1908) and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 
1898), in so far as they are not inconsistent with th e provisions of the Act, shall 
apply to the proceedings before the Tribunal and for the purposes of the provisions 
of the said enactments, Tribunal shall be deemed to be a Civil Court, or as the case 
may be, a Court of Sessions and shall have all the power s of a Civil Court and 
Court of Sessions. 
18
[16. Procedure of the Tribunal.– (1) Upon receipt of the report of the Committee 
under section 8 of the Act, the Tribunal shall proceed with the matter and try every 
case arising out of any alleged offence with respect to the ownership, or illegal 
possession of the immovable property. 
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being 
in force, the Tribunal shall also have exclusive jurisdiction to determine the question 
of title, if any, of the immovable property being subject matter of the case. 
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being 
in force, the Tribunal shall have exclusive jurisdiction for the trial of any complainant 
whose complaint has been found false, frivolous or vexatious and if the complaint is 
found false, frivolous or vexatious by the Tribunal, the complainant shall be liable to 
be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years but not 
less than one year and fine which may extend to five hundred thousand rupees. 
                                                           
15Omitted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6082, s.11. 
16Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6082, s.12. 
17Omitted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6082, s.13. 
18Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6083, s.14. 
8 
 
(4) For the purposes of sub -sections (2) and (3) of this section, the 
Tribunal may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, follow such summary procedure 
as it may deem appropriate. 
(5) The Tribunal shall try the offences under sections 4 and 5 of the Act in 
accordance with the procedure provided under Chapter XXII -A of the Code of 
Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898). 
(6) Every case shall be proceeded on a day -to-day basis and decided by 
the Tribunal within a period o f thirty days from the date of receipt of report by the 
Tribunal and the case shall not be adjourned for any purpose unless such 
adjournment is, in its opinion, necessary in the interest of justice, and no 
adjournment shall, in any case, be granted for more than seven days. 
(7) The Tribunal may award monetary compensation for wrongful and 
illegal possession of the immovable property which shall not be less than the value 
of the immovable property so possessed, as determined in accordance with the 
valuation table notified under the Stamp Act, 1899 (II of 1899), as on the date of the 
final judgment and in addition thereto, the Tribunal may order payment to the lawful 
owner of any profit or gain accrued from such immovable property or any 
superstructure constructed thereupon, by the accused. 
(8) The amount of compensation and profit so awarded and the cost of 
restoration of possession, if any, shall be recovered as arrears of land revenue. 
(9) The Tribunal may, at any stage of the case, order the arrest of any 
accused for an offence under the Act, through police or an agency or authority of 
the Government. 
(10) Subject to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V 
of 1898), no court other than the Lahore High Court shall have the power to grant 
bail or order release of the accused arrested under sub-section (9). 
(11) Where any case involving illegal possession of the immovable 
property is pending before any court or tribunal, other than the Federal 
Constitutional Court of Pakistan, Supreme Court of Pakistan or Lahore High Court, 
a lawful owner may file an application before such court or tribunal for transfer of 
the said case to the Tribunal and such court or tribunal, after evaluating the record 
of the case and hearing all the persons concerned, if it is satisfied that the case, 
prima facie, falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tribunal, shall transfer the 
said case to the Tribunal: 
Provided that such court or tribunal shall decide such application within a 
period of fifteen days positively. 
(12) Upon receipt of a case or proceeding by means of a transfer under 
sub-section (11), the Tribunal may proceed with the case from the stage at which it 
was pending before such other court or tribunal, and it shall not be necessary for 
the Tribunal to r e-examine any witness or record any evidence that has already 
been recorded; however, the Tribunal may refer such case to the Committee for 
amicable resolution of the matter or for its report, as the case may be, in terms of 
sections 7 and 8 of the Act. 
(13) Upon conclusion of the trial, the Tribunal, if deciding the title or 
ownership of the immovable property, shall pronounce a judgement and pass a 
decree accordingly.] 
9 
 
19
[17. *  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *]   
20
[18. Delivery or restoration of possession to lawful owner.– (1) Upon 
conclusion of the proceedings, either through trial or otherwise, the Tribunal shall 
order delivery or restoration of the possession of the immovable property to  its 
lawful owner if such lawful owner is not already in possession. 
(2) For the purposes of sub -section (1), the Tribunal may direct the 
Officer-in-charge of the police station or any functionary of any other agency or 
authority of the Government to rende r such assistance as may be necessary for 
ensuring the delivery or restoration of possession of the immovable property to its 
lawful owner.] 
21
[19. Appeal.– (1) Any person convicted under the Act, the complainant, or the 
Public Prosecutor if a so directed in writing by the Prosecutor General, Punjab, 
being aggrieved by the final judgment of the Tribunal including a judgment and 
decree passed by the Tribunal, may, within thirty days of the date of such judgment 
or decree, prefer an appeal to the Lahore High Court: 
Provided that no appeal or revision shall lie against a judgment or a decree 
passed under sub-section (5) of section 8 of the Act. 
(2) All appeals filed under sub -section (1) shall be heard by the benches 
to be constituted by the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, and shall be 
decided within a period of thirty days of their filing. 
(3) No appeal or revision shall lie against an interim order or interlocutory 
order passed by the Tribunal.] 
22
[20.  Prohibition of alienation .– Any trans action involving alienation of the 
immovable property, which is the subject matter of the trial or any part thereof, 
whether by sale, lease, gift, exchange, settlement, surrender, usufructuary 
mortgage or otherwise, or any partition effected or a trust cre ated, or by any mode 
of alienation, whatsoever, in respect of such immovable property, after filing of the 
complaint, shall be prohibited and shall be deemed to be null and void, except to 
the extent permitted by an order of the Tribunal.] 
23
[21.  * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * *] 
24
[22. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * *] 
23. Public Prosecutor .– The Government shall appoint, for each Tribunal, a 
Public Prosecutor on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, and until 
                                                           
19Omitted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6083, s.15. 
20Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6083, s.16. 
21Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6083, s.17. 
22Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.18. 
23Omitted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership o f Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.19.  
24Omitted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.19.  
10 
 
such appointment is made, Public Prosecutors from the Public Prosecution 
Department of the Government shall be deputed to per form the functions of Public 
Prosecutor before the Tribunal. 
25
[24. Indemnity.– No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against 
the Committee or any functionary or any agency or authority of the Government or 
officer or official acting unde r the Act or the rules for any act or thing done or 
intended to be done in good faith.] 
25. Power to make rules .– The Government may, by notification in the official 
Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of the Act. 
26. Removal of difficulties.– If any difficulty arises in giving effect to or applying 
the provisions of the Act, the Government may make such order, not inconsistent 
with the Act, as may be necessary for removing such difficulty. 
27. Repeal 
26
[and saving] . 
27
[(1)] The Punjab Protection of Ownership of 
Immovable Property Ordinance 2025 (VI of 2025) is hereby repealed. 
28
[(2) Notwithstanding the repeal under sub -section (1), anything done or 
any action taken under the repealed Ordinance shall be deemed to b e done or 
taken under the Act.] 
 
_______ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                           
25Substituted by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  
was published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.20. 
26Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.21 (a). 
27Inserted by the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.21 (b). 
28Added by the  Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property (Amendment) Act 2026 (XXXVII of 2026), and  was 
published in the Punjab Gazette (Extraordinary), dated: 14 May 2026, pp.6079-6084, s.21 (c).