The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has declared null and void 80 decisions of the provincial ombudsperson made under the Women’s Inheritance Protection Law.

In its 90-page written judgment, the court ruled that the Women Property Rights Act 2019 does not grant the provincial ombudsperson the authority to distribute disputed property.

The decision stated that complex property-related disputes fall within the jurisdiction of civil courts, and that all decisions of the ombudsperson are in conflict with the Land Revenue Act 1967. The court said the ombudsperson can neither halt judicial proceedings nor give a final ruling on ownership rights.