A new bill has been presented in the Punjab Assembly to protect the collective properties of minority communities across the province.

Falbous Christopher, Chairman of the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Minority Affairs, moved the proposed law in the assembly.

Through this bill, the government plans to form a strong Provincial Action Committee to protect and properly manage properties owned by minority communities in Punjab.

A minority member of the provincial assembly, nominated by the chief minister, will head the committee. Other members will include the Secretary for Human Rights and Minority Affairs, the Secretary for Law and Parliamentary Affairs, the Senior Member of the Board of Revenue, and the Deputy Inspector General of Police Punjab.

The government will also appoint six well-known individuals from minority communities, including at least one woman, to join the committee.

Under the proposed law, the committee will prepare and maintain a complete record of all collective properties owned by minority communities across Punjab to ensure their protection.

Illegal occupations

The committee will also keep a close watch on encroachments, illegal occupations, and any misuse of minority collective properties.

It will review all matters related to the sale, transfer, lease, or mortgage of these properties and give its recommendations to the government.

Issues linked to shared properties

The committee will also help minority communities resolve issues linked to their shared properties.

According to the bill, no one can sell, transfer, lease, or mortgage any collective property without prior approval from the government.

If anyone carries out such a deal without official permission, the law will not recognise it.

The bill clearly states that no individual can claim personal ownership of a collective property.

Anyone found illegally selling, transferring, or leasing minority collective property could face up to seven years in prison along with a fine of Rs100,000.