Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has reacted after the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered a suspension of the Punjab Protection of Ownership Ordinance 2025, halting its implementation until further hearings.

The order was issued by Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court, Justice Aalia Neelum, while hearing petitions filed by Abida Parveen and other applicants.

After addressing preliminary objections, the court recommended the formation of a full bench to hear the matter.

During Monday’s hearing, the Punjab Chief Secretary appeared before the court.

The chief justice strongly criticised the provincial government, remarking that if the law were allowed to continue, even Jati Umra (residence of the Sharif family) could be vacated within half an hour.

Justice Neelum observed that the ordinance ignored citizens’ fundamental rights and undermined judicial authority, questioning how a revenue officer could order possession in cases already pending before civil courts.

She also asked what purpose the law was meant to serve.

Responding to the court’s order, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the ordinance had been enacted to help millions of Punjab residents who had suffered for decades, and that its suspension would benefit the land grabbers and qabza mafia.

She said the Punjab Assembly had passed the law to rid the public of land mafias, warning that people would view the suspension as backing for encroachers.

Maryam Nawaz added that while the suspension caused her no personal harm, it had seriously affected citizens oppressed by land grabbers.

The ordinance was approved on October 31, 2025, and aimed to ensure that land and property disputes would no longer drag on in courts for years, instead requiring decisions within 90 days.

It provided for the establishment of district dispute resolution committees to decide land and property disputes before they reached courts.

Appeals against committee decisions were to be heard by a special tribunal headed by a retired high court judge, also mandated to decide cases within 90 days.