LAHORE
\nA contempt of court petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against Punjab Chief Minister
\nMaryam Nawaz Sharif and Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari over their public statements criticizing a recent court order suspending the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2025.
\nThe petition was submitted by citizen Munir Ahmed through his counsel, Advocate Azhar Siddique. It alleges that the remarks made by the chief minister and the information minister undermined the judiciary\u2019s authority, damaged its reputation, and attempted to politicize a judicial decision.
\nAccording to the petitioner, Maryam Nawaz\u2019s statements including claims that the LHC\u2019s suspension of the ordinance was not in line with superior judiciary principles and would benefit \u201cland mafias\u201d and \u201cencroachment mafias\u201d amounted to scandalizing the court and interfering with judicial processes. Similar allegations were leveled against Azma Bukhari for echoing these views.
\nThe petition argues that such comments from high-ranking officials violate constitutional norms and could prejudice ongoing judicial proceedings. It requests the LHC to issue show-cause notices to both leaders and initiate contempt proceedings against them.
\nThe controversy stems from an interim order issued by LHC Chief Justice Aalia Neelum on December 22, 2025, suspending the operation of the ordinance. The law, promulgated by the Punjab government and approved by CM Maryam Nawaz in October, aimed to provide swift resolution of property disputes through deputy commissioner-led committees, targeting illegal land occupations and offering relief to vulnerable owners, particularly women and the underprivileged.
\nDuring hearings, Justice Neelum expressed concerns over the ordinance concentrating \u201cunchecked powers\u201d in the executive, potentially bypassing civil courts and fundamental rights. She also ordered the reversal of possessions transferred under the law and recommended forming a full bench for detailed hearings.
\nIn response, Maryam Nawaz issued a statement criticizing the suspension, saying it contradicted established judicial precedents and would harm ordinary citizens while empowering land grabbers. Provincial ministers and treasury members defended the law in the Punjab Assembly, framing it as a measure against powerful mafias.
\nLegal experts and bar associations have largely supported the LHC\u2019s intervention, viewing the ordinance as encroaching on judicial domain. The government later softened its tone amid reports of the impending contempt action, expressing willingness to address any flaws in the law through court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE A contempt of court petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Provincial Information Minister Azma Bukhari over their public statements criticizing a recent court order suspending the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance, 2025. The petition was submitted by citizen Munir […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-522447","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-top-news"},"yoast_head":"\n