Muhammad Ali Rana

Long absence creates opportunities for illegal possession, a silent theft affecting thousands. 📌 Editor’s Note (24 September 2025): Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced a new law with strict penalties and special courts to curb illegal dispossession  — a landmark step to protect widows, orphans, and vulnerable citizens. As discussed in this article, we are thankful to CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif for taking this decisive and courageous step. 📌 Update (31 October 2025): The legislative process is now complete, and this initiative has officially been enacted as the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance 2025 . This law is now in effect, introducing a 90-day protection guarantee against illegal land grabbers (Qabza Mafia) and further strengthening property rights for the citizens of Punjab. *** In my ongoing work, particularly in “ The Hidden Engine of South Asia ,” I’ve tried to shed light on the unseen economic forces that truly sustain our region – the ...

Recently, I accompanied someone to an Anti-Corruption Department office in Pakistan, where he had filed a complaint in a property fraud case. I wasn’t directly involved — just there to help clarify the matter, as I had some background understanding of how the system works. What I saw was deeply troubling. Applicants were being mistreated, asked irrelevant questions, and in some cases even threatened into withdrawing their complaints. The behavior was so discouraging that many walked away without hope. There was no proper guidance, no dignity in the process — just confusion and fear. The specific case I witnessed was simple — and should never have taken long to resolve. A man had purchased land and paid all official dues, including the FBR fee, through a government employee. The registry was processed and approved — and everyone assumed the fee had been paid. But here lies the failure: At the time of registry, no one in the office checked the actual status of the FBR payment. The system...