Punjab Province

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has ruled that illegal occupation of government-owned land does not create any legal or ownership rights, dismissing an appeal challenging the Punjab government's decision to change the allocation scheme for 76 kanals of state land in Pakpattan district.

A two-member division bench comprising Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal and Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabir upheld the government's authority to determine how its property should be utilised and allocated.

The six-page judgment, authored by Justice Muzamil Akhtar Shabir, was delivered on November 10, 2026, in an intra-court appeal filed by Masood Ahmed against an earlier decision of a single-member bench.

The dispute concerned the conversion of 76 kanals of government-owned land from the Temporary Cultivation Scheme to the Lambardari Grant Scheme.
The appellant challenged the government's decision, arguing that it conflicted with observations recorded in an earlier court order dated March 4, 2015.

However, the division bench rejected the argument, observing that the disputed land belonged to the provincial government and that the appellant had no legally established ownership or occupancy rights. The court held that the government, as the lawful owner of the property, possessed the authority to determine its intended use and change the applicable allocation scheme in accordance with the law.

It further observed that an unauthorised occupant could not challenge such administrative decisions merely because they affected land under his illegal possession. According to the judgment, the appellant had not denied his unauthorised occupation of the disputed property, and the findings regarding his illegal possession had remained unchallenged throughout the proceedings.

The bench also examined whether observations made in previous judicial proceedings could establish enforceable rights over government property.
It concluded that temporary or tentative observations recorded in an earlier court order did not create permanent legal entitlements or vested interests in favour of an unauthorised occupant.

The judges emphasised that constitutional relief is available to persons whose legally recognised rights have been affected, rather than individuals seeking to protect possession unsupported by law. In its detailed findings, the court stated that the appellant could not claim the status of an aggrieved person simply because the competent authorities had decided to allocate government land under a different scheme.

The division bench found no legal defect, jurisdictional error or misinterpretation of the record in the earlier decision issued by the single-member bench on April 25, 2017. Consequently, the court dismissed Masood Ahmed's intra-court appeal and maintained the government's decision to allocate the disputed land under the Lambardari Grant Scheme.

The ruling clarifies the legal distinction between physical possession and lawful entitlement to state-owned property.It also reinforces the principle that government land allocation decisions cannot be challenged solely on the basis of unauthorised occupation. The judgment provides important guidance for public land administration and disputes involving individuals occupying government property without legally established rights.

The Punjab Highways Department has issued a corrigendum to the tender documents for the reconstruction, widening and improvement of the 18.40-kilometre Bhong–Dau Wala Road, also known as Guddu Road, in Rahim Yar Khan district. The project carries an estimated cost of Rs 579.52 million, with the opening of bids scheduled for November 11, 2026. According to the revised tender notice issued by the Executive Engineer of Highways Division Rahim Yar Khan and the Superintending Engineer of Highway Circle Bahawalpur, the project is included in Punjab’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) under scheme number 2111. The department issued corrigendum notice IPB-761 to amend the earlier tender notice, IPB-694. The revised advertisement was published in Daily Jang on November 5, 2026, while the procurement details were also made available through Punjab’s electronic procurement system.The proposed development involves reconstructing and widening the existing metalled road between Bhong and Dau Wala, along with improvements intended to enhance the condition and usability of the route. The 18.40-kilometre road is part of the local transport network in Rahim Yar Khan district. Its rehabilitation is expected to improve connectivity between communities along the corridor and facilitate the movement of residents, agricultural produce, commercial goods and other road users. Improved road conditions could also contribute to more efficient transportation and support commercial activity in surrounding areas. However, the extent of these benefits will depend on the final project design, construction quality and successful completion of the proposed works. Under the tender arrangements, the estimated project cost has been set at Rs 579.520 million, while the required bid security amounts to Rs 28.976 million. The deadline for submitting bids was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on November 11, 2026, with the tender opening set for noon the same day. The corrigendum also stated that all other terms and conditions contained in the original tender advertisement would remain unchanged. The procurement process is being administered through the relevant Punjab Highways authorities, with Highway Circle Bahawalpur overseeing the project within its jurisdiction. The development represents a proposed investment in the road infrastructure of southern Punjab, where improved transport links can play an important role in facilitating access to markets, public services and economic opportunities.

A property and land auction notice associated with the Civil Court in Ahmedpur Sharqia, Bahawalpur district, has been published, indicating a proposed auction of immovable property in the area.

According to the listing, the notice concerns immovable property associated with the Civil Court in Ahmedpur Sharqia. November 16, 2026, is identified as the closing date, although the available information does not confirm whether the auction itself is scheduled for that day.

Prospective bidders would need to consult the original advertisement or the relevant court office to obtain the complete property details, bidding requirements, payment conditions and auction schedule.

The notice represents a property-related development in Ahmedpur Sharqia, a tehsil of Bahawalpur district in southern Punjab. However, the value and nature of the assets cannot be independently assessed without the complete auction documentation.