The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday directed the fixing of petitions challenging the Punjab Protection of Property Ownership Ordinance before a full bench.

Chief Justice Aalia Neelum issued the directions while hearing petitions filed by Mushtaq Ahmed and others.

She observed that if a matter is already pending before a civil court, the relevant deputy commissioner must approach that court.

The chief justice remarked that civil courts would be bound to refer such cases to the tribunal, noting that although tribunals were notified around two and a half months ago, they had yet to begin functioning.

Questioning the government’s actions, Chief Justice Neelum asked the state counsel how possession of property was being handed over verbally without any written order.

“If the court were to issue directions orally without a written order, would you comply?” she asked.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s lawyer told the court that the Sheikhupura deputy commissioner had ordered the handing over of possession verbally, despite the case being under hearing in the high court.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bar Council welcomed the suspension of the Punjab Protection of Property law.

In a statement, the council welcomed the Lahore High Court’s interim order staying the implementation of the law.

The statement said that granting committees headed by deputy commissioners the authority to decide property disputes under the new ordinance was unconstitutional and unlawful.

It added that the ordinance undermines judicial supremacy, citizens’ rights and the civil justice system.

According to the Pakistan Bar Council, handing over possession through revenue officials in cases already under trial amounts to an attack on judicial authority.

The statement claimed that certain elements were seeking to concentrate all powers, including judicial authority, in their own hands.

The council rejected the expansion of powers beyond jurisdiction for patwaris and assistant commissioners, calling it unacceptable.

It stressed that the authority to interpret laws rests exclusively with the judiciary under the Constitution.

The Pakistan Bar Council said the chief justice of the Lahore High Court has full constitutional authority to issue interim orders, and that suspending laws that weaken judicial powers was the correct decision.

It added that the legal fraternity stands with the chief justice and the judiciary, and rejected the Punjab government’s stance in support of the ordinance.