The Senate of Pakistan has unanimously passed the bill for the establishment of a special court for the immovable property cases of overseas Pakistanis. The court will dispose of cases within three months.
(Overseas Pakistanis Property) Bill, 2024, which mandates that special courts dispose of cases within 90 days.
As per the bill, the federal government would establish special courts for overseas Pakistanis after consultation with the Islamabad High Court chief justice.
The special court judge would have the powers of a district court judge and the Pakistanis living abroad would be able to file petitions regarding immovable properties in the court.
The pleas about property possession, ownership, property value, etc. will be heard in the court.
“Petitions could be lodged electronically (online) as well and if the respondent does not appear for the second time then the court will take action in the person’s absence,” read the bill, adding the court would not give more than two chances to a party in the case to submit evidence.
The overseas Pakistanis would be allowed to attend the court through a video link.
Moreover, as per the bill, the court would dispose of the case within 90 days then the affected person could file an appeal in the high court which will also settle the case within 90 days.
The bill said the court would stop the respondent from transferring property till a verdict on the case is announced.
The bill was moved by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development Chaudhry Salik Hussain. The legislation is aimed at addressing the property-related issues of overseas Pakistanis.
Commenting on the salient features of the bill, Salik said that the bill has been moved on the great demand from the Pakistanis living abroad. It would ensure the secure process of land purchasing through an online process by overseas Pakistanis.
Leader of the House in the Senate Senator Syed Ali Zafar hailed the bill presented for the overseas.
Meanwhile, Senator Danish Kumar said that overseas approached him and demanded to bring such kind of law to secure their property in Pakistan. Through the online process of property purchasing, the overseas will not have to bear travel expenditures.
Senator Irfan Ul Haq Siddiqui said that the bill has already been approved by the committee.
