Chaudhary Khan Muhammad Vs.Government of Pakistan. Mst. Akhtari Begum Vs . Government of Pakistan and anothers.

IN T H E FE D E R A L S H A R IA T CO URT

(O R IG IN A L J U R IS D IC T IO N )

PRESENT

M R .J U S T IC E D R .T A N Z IL -U R -R A H M A N ,C H IE F JU S T IC E

M R .J U S T IC E D R .F ID A MUHAMMAD K H A N .

M R. JU S T IC E N A Z IR AHM AD B H A T T I.

S H A R IA T P E T IT IO N N O : 1 0 /L OF 1990

C h a u d h ry K han Mohammad, A d v o c a te , H ig h C o u rt son o f C h . A lla h B a k h s h , R e sid e n t o f B a s ti M adad W aIi,W ard N o .l, JH A N G S a d d a r. P E TITO N E R

VERSUS

G o v e rn m e n t o f P a k is ta n a n d a n o th e r RESPONDENT

S H A R IA T P E T IT IO N NO : l/ l OF 1991

1.M s t. A k h t a r i B egum 1, D /o A b d u l G h a fo o r, _ _ , a lia s B h o ry K h a n .

2.M s t.A n w a r i Begum j '

THROUGH

G e n e ra l A tto r n e y M aqsood A li, * K han S /O U m ar K h a n ,R /0 Iq b a l N a g a r,C h a k No. 11/1 4 - L , T e h s il C h ic h a -W a tn i, D i s t t : S A H IW A L. ... P E T IT IO N E R S

VERSUS

G o v e rn m e n t o f P a kista n ... RESPONDENT and a n o th e r.

F o r th e P e titio n e r in S .P . N o .lO /L o f 1990 ... In p e rs o n .

F o r th e P e titio n e rs in S .P .N o . 1/1 o f 1991 ... S .R a s h id A b b a d Kazm i, A d v o c a te

F o r G o v e rn m e n t o f P u n ja b ... M r.M oham m ad Aslam U n s, A d v o c a te .

D ate o f In s titu tio n o f S .P .N o . 10 / L o f 1990 30.5.1990 D ate o f A d m is s io n o f S .P .N o . 10 / L o f 1990 4.2.1991 D ate o f In s titu tio n o f S . P . N o . 1/1 o f 1991 15.1.1991 D ate o f A d m is s io n o f S . P . N o . 1/1 o f 1991 24.3.1991 D ate o f H e a rin g 9-2-1992

D ate o f D ecisio n 27.4.1992

S . P . N o . l O / L o f 1990

JUDG M ENT

D R .F ID A M UHAMMAD K H A N ,J .~ T h is S h a ria t P e titio n file d b y C h .K h a n M o h a m m a d ,A d vo ca te , h e r e in a fte r m e n tio n e d as th e le a rn e d P e titio n e r , c h a lle n g e s p a ra g ra p h s 22 a n d 23 o f th e La n d R eform R e g u la tio n ,1972 (M L R -1 1 5 ) ( h e r e in a fte r r e fe r r e d to as th e s a id R e g u la tio n ) on th e g r o u n d th a t th e y a re re p u g n a n t to th e In ju n c tio n s o f Islam as c o n ta in e d in th e H o ly Q u ra n and S unnah o f H o ly P ro p h e t (Peace be up o n H im ). A n o th e r P e titio n file d b y M s t. A k h t a r i Begum and M s t.A n w a r i B egum , d a u g h te rs o f A b d u l G h a fo o r a lia s B h o re y K han ( h e r e in a fte r c a lle d th e o th e r p e titio n e rs ) c h a lle n g e s p a ra g ra p h 22 o f th e sa id R e g u la tio n .

2.T h e im p u g n e d p a ra g ra p h s a re re p ro d u c e d as u n d e r : - m 22: R e s tric tio n s on p a r t it io n o f jo in t h o ld in g s . - (1 ) jo in t h o ld in g w ith an area e q u a l to o r less th a n th a t o r a s u b s is te n c e h o ld in g s h a ll in no c irc u m s ta n c e s be p a r titio n e d .

(2 ) A jo in t h o ld in g la r g e r th a n a s u b s is te n c e h o ld in g b u t sm a lle r th a n an econom ic h o ld in g s h a ll n o t be p a r titio n e d , i f p a r t it io n has th e e ffe c t o f d iv id in g th e h o ld in g in to su ch p a r ts th a t a n y one p a r t add ed to th e area a lre a d y ow ned o r possessed b y th e in d iv id u a l c o - s h a r e r to whom th a t p a r t w o u ld go becomes less th a n th e area o f a s u b s is te n c e h o ld in g .

(3 ) A jo in t h o ld in g w ith an area equ al to th a t o f an econom ic h o ld in g s h a ll in no c irc u m s ta n c e be p a r titio n e d .

(4 ) A jo in t h o ld in g w ith an area g r e a te r th a n th a t o f an econom ic h o ld in g s h a ll n o t be p a r titio n e d in su c h a way as to leave no in d iv id u a l h o ld in g ta k e n to g e th e r w ith th e area w h ic h th e o w n e r may a lre a d y possess equ al to an econom ic h o ld in g ,o r to leave th e in d iv id u a l h o ld in g o f a n y one o f th e jo in t o w n e rs less th a n th e area o f a s u b s is te n c e h o ld in g .

(5 ) P a rtitio n o f la n d in c o n tra v e n tio n o f th e p ro v is io n s o f th is p a ra g ra p h s s h a ll be v o id .

E(6 ) N o th in g in th is p a ra g ra p h s h a ll a p p ly t o : -

(a)h o ld in g s w h ic h a re jo in t ly ow ned b y evacuees a n d n o n -e v a c u e e s and a re r e q u ire d to be p a r titio n e d in a cco rd a n ce w ith th e p ro c e d u re p re s c rib e d u n d e r a n y R e h a b ilita tio n o r S e ttle ­ m ent Schem e;

(b ) h o ld in g s w h ic h a re jo in t ly ow ned b y o w n e rs o f la n d a n d o c c u p a n c y te n a n ts o r M u q a r r a r id a r s , r e q u ire d to be p a r titio n e d in a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e p ro c e d u re p re s c rib e d b y o r u n d e r a n y law f o r th e tim e b e in g in fo rc e ;

(c ) sm all s t r ip s o f la n d bona fid e r e q u r ie d f o r th e p u rp o s e o f b u ild in g th e re o n ;

(d ) jo in ts k h a ta s w hen th e e n tir e area o f a v illa g e o r deh is r e - d is t r ib u t e d am ongst v a r io u s land o w n e rs as a r e s u lt o f c o n s o lid a tio n o f h o ld in g s ; or (e ) a jo in t h o ld in g r e q u ire d to be p a r titio n e d fo r th e p u rp o s e o f s e p a ra tin g th e la n d resum ed u n d e r th is R e g u la tio n fro m th e la n d n o t so re su m e d ] 23: M anagem ent o f im p a rtib le jo in t h o ld in g s .- (1 ) A jo in t h o ld in g th e p a r t it io n o f w h ic h is n o t p e rm is s ib le u n d e r p a ra g ra p h 22 s h a ll c o n tin u e to be m anaged as a s in g le u n it .

(2 ) In th e e v e n t o f a d is p u te r e g a r d in g th e m anagem ent « o f a n y su c h jo in t h o ld in g as a fo re s a id , (a ) th e c o - s h a r e r may se le c t one o f th e m se lve s b y d ra w in g o f lo ts o r o th e rw is e ,w h o w ill m anage ,on t h e ir b e h a lf, th e h o ld in g , a nd fro m whom th e y w ill re c e iv e th e ir s h a re s o f th e in com e ; o r

( b ) i f th e c o -s h a re rs ca n n o t so s e le c t,th e y may re q u e s t th e c o lle c to r o f th e d i s t r ic t in w h ic h su c h h o ld in g is s itu a te to n o m in a te one o f th e c o -s h a re rs to m anage as a fo re s a id .

(3 ) I f in th e o p in io n o f th e C om m ission, no a rra n g e m e n t f o r jo in t m anagem ent b etw e en th e c o - s h a r e r is p o s s ib le , th e Com m ission may a c q u ire th e h o ld in g on pa ym e n t o f such co m p e n sa tio n as may be d e te r ­ m ined in th e p r e s c r ib e d m a n n e r.

E x p la n a tio n :- I f a c o - s h a r e r is f o r th e tim e b e in g a m in o r o r lu n a tic , h is g u a rd ia n s h a ll be tre a te d as a c o - s h a r e r f o r th e p u rp o s e o f th is p a r a g r a p h . M

3.B o th th e abo ve p e titio n s w e re a d m tite d to r e g u la r h e a rin g on 4 th F e b ru a ry and 24 th M a rc h , 1991 r e s p e c tiv e ly a n d w e re h e a rd

S . P . N o . 1 0 / L o f 1990

to g e th e r on 9 .2 .1 9 9 2 . C h .K h a n M oham m a d,A dvocate th e p e titio n e r in p e rs o n a n d M r.R a s h id A b b a s K a z m i,A d v o c a te f o r th e o th e r p e titio n e r s w ere h e a rd . M r.M oham m ad Aslam U n s ,A d v o c a te who a p p e a re d on b e h a lf o f A d v o c a te g e n e ra l,P u n ja b was also h e a rd and th e ju d g m e n t was r e s e rv e d . B y t h is s in g le ju d g m e n t, we a re d is p o s in g o f b o th th e p e titio n s to g e th e r .

4.T h e le a rn e d p e titio n e r in te r - a lia co n te n d e d th a t th e im p u g n e d p a ra g ra p h s o f th e sa id R e g u la tio n a re a g a in s t th e te a c h in g s o f Isla m . S e ve ra l g ro u n d s p o in te d o u t b y him in s u p p o rt o f h is plea c o u ld be summed u p as fo llo w :-

(a ) Islam c o n firm s th e r ig h t o f in d iv id u a l o w n e rs h ip a nd re c o g n iz e s i t as h ig h ly s a c ro s a n c t a nd does n o t a llow a n y b o d y to ta k e th e p r o p e r ty o f a n o th e r e x c e p t w ith h is c o n s e n t. D u rin g th e p e rio d o f H o ly P ro p h e t (P B U H ) in d iv id u a ls used to keep th e p r o p e r ty a nd u tiliz e them f o r th e ir p e rs o n a l e n d s a nd th e same w e re ow ned in in h e rita n c e b y th e legal h e irs a f te r th e d e a th o f th e o w n e r. In th is c o n n e c tio n he placed re lia n c e on th e fo llo w in g v e rs e s o f th e H o ly Q u ra n :

"O ye w ho b e lie v e ! F u lfil v o u r u n d e r - ta k in g s . T h e bea st o f c a ttle is made la w fu l u n to yo u ( f o r fo o d ) e x c e p t th a t w h ic h is a n n o u n ce d u n to yo u ( h e r e in ) , game b e in g u n la w fu l w hen y e a re on p ilg rim a g e , Lo! A lla h o rd a in e th th a t w h ic h p le a s e th H im " . (5 :1 ) "Com e n o t n e a r th e w e a lth o f th e o rp h a n save w ith th a t w h ic h is b e tte r t i l l he come to stre n g th a nd ke e p th e c o v ena nt^ Lo! o f th e c o v e n a n t i t w ill be a s k e d " . (1 7 :3 4 )

"U n to A lla h b e lo n g e th w h a ts o e v e r is in th e h ea vens and w h a ts o e v e r is in th e e a r th . A lla h e v e r s u r ro u n d e th a ll t h in g s " . (4 :1 2 6 )

"U n to A lla h belo.nge.th w h a ts o e v e r is in . th e h ea vens a nd w h a ts o e v e r i.s._in th e e a r th . A n d We c h a rg e d th o se w ho re c e iv e d The S c r ip tu r e b e fo re y o u , and (We c h a rg e ) y o u , th a t ye keep y o u r d u ty to w a rd A lla h . A n d i f ye d is b e lie v e , lo! u n to A lla h b e io n g e th w h a ts o e v e r is in th e hea vens and w h a ts o e v e r is in th e e a rth a nd A lla h is e v e r A b s o lu te , O w ner o f P ra is e ." (4 :1 3 1 )

" U n to A lla h b e io n g e th . w h a ts o e v e r is in _ th e hea vens and w h a ts o e v e r is in th e Is a r tfu A n d A lla h is s u ffic ie n t as D e fe n d e r " .(4 :1 3 2 )

"K n o w e s t th o u n o t th a t i t is A lla h u n to Whom b e lo n q e th th e s o v e re ig n ty o f th e ""Heavens a n d e a r t h ; a nd ye h a ve n o t, b e sid e A lla h , a n y f r ie n d o r h e lp e r . " ( 2 :107) " U n to A lla h b e lo n q e th w h a tso e v e r is in th e hea vens a n d w h a ts o e v e r is in th e e a r th ;a n d u n to A lla h a ll th in g s a re r e t u r n e d " . (3 :1 0 9 ) T h e le a rn e d p e titio n e r also placed re lia n c e on q u o ta tio n fro m 11 b y H on’ b le J u s tic e D r .

T a n z il-u r-R a h m a n as m e ntione d below : - ^^n il fi i iii t"i ^ml L_i f< iin i~i J_iLjL—i j 11X 1 y> ys u U j I—£ nin*i *i.i? ^ I jjfc 9jJa> l_£ .

bJLSj LS 9 nin5'i i> j-xd lj _ w ■ ■■ «“■ lJ_iLj *"■ ■ H — !j ifli 'i j j L ? *“ 'i _■

—. j^iU>L_i ^ L .^ ^ ci I _<^ 9j iijl< f 1 **•-• - * ( 11 ♦ ft 4’ . . . . £_i y i i )

He f u r t h e r re lie d on th e fo llo w in g b o o k s :

^ ^ jJ, s_i i j S b y Mr. Rafiullah Shahab, P p .78-89.

a - ij£ j L£ b y D r .N a ja tu lia h S id d iq u i, P p . 84-93.

• i- il b y M aulana S .A .M a w d o o d i,P p .69-79,108-113 (b ) T h e H o ly P ro p h e t ( a-l-H ) on a n u m b e r o f occasions e n jo in in g up o n th e Muslims to c u ltiv a te th e ir la n d s th e m se lve s had s a id , "O ne w ho ow ns la n d m ust t i l l i t h im s e lf o r b e stow i t f r e e " . I t show s th a t th e o w n e r o f th e p r o p e r ty m ust be e n a b le d to c u ltiv a te h is la n d h im s e lf and i t is p o s s ib le o n ly i f i t is d e m arcated f o r h is p e rs o n a l u s e . In case o f embai-99 on p a r t it io n o f th e la n d he c a n n o t be in a p o s itio n t o c u ltiv a te th e la n d h im s e lf as r e q u ir e d .

(c ) T h e o w n e r o f th e p r o p e r ty has a r ig h t to sell h is p r o p e r t y , c o n s tr u c t a house f o r h im s e lf o r h is c h ild r e n th e r e u p o n , make it " w a q f" fo r m o s q u e /s c h o o l/h o s p ita l/o th e r w e lfa re in s titu t io n a n d u tiliz e i t f o r in d u s tr ia l p u rp o s e s . H o w e ve r, p a ra 22 does n o t p e rm it him to do so.

(d ) Para 23 w h ic h p e r ta in s to th e m anagem ent o f im p a rtib le jo in t h o ld in g is also a g a in s t th e in ju n c tio n s o f Islam as i t p e rm its d ra w in g o f lo ts a nd a u th o riz e s a c q u is itio n on p a ym e n t o f co m p e n sa tio n .

5.T h e o th e r p e titio n e r s s u b m itte d in w r it in g th a t th e said p a ra g ra p h had in c re a s e d tu m u lt and o p p re s s io n because th e p e rso n in a c tu a l p osse ssion o f th e u n it o f la n d does n o t g iv e a n y p ro d u c e to th e a c tu a l o w n e rs a n d t h a t has re s u lte d in u n n e c e s s a ry litig a tio n s b etw e en th e p a r tie s . T h e ir le a rn e d co u n se l also made su b m issio n s on th e abo ve lin e s .

6.T h e le a rn e d co u n se l w ho a p p e a re d on b e h a lf o f A d v o c a te G e n e ra l,P u n ja b s u b m itte d th a t th e sa id R e g u la tio n was n o t re p u g n a n t to th e te a c h in g s o f Islam as i t was in p u b lic itn e r e s t . He re lie d on PLD 1990, S uprem e C o u rt page 99 (Q a z ilb a s h W aqf c a s e ).

7.B e fo re p ro c e e d in g f u r t h e r i t is p e r tin e n t to m ention th a t p a ra g ra p h s 22 a n d 23 w ere c o n s id e re d b y F e d e ra l S h a ria t C o u rt in th e p a s t also ( i . e . on v a r io u s d a te s in 1980) and w e re h e ld as n o t re p u g n a n t. On a p p e a ls th e a u g u s t S h a ria t A p p e lla te B e n ch o f Suprem e C o u rt w h ile g iv in g fin a l v e r d ic t on some o th e r p a ra g ra p h s o f th e said R e g u la tio n , le ft th e q u e s tio n o f re p u g n a n c y o r o th e rw is e o f th e se tw o im p u g n e d p a ra g ra p h s u n d e te rm in e d as

S , P . N o . 1 0 / L o f 1990

th e le a rn e d c o u r t co u ld n o t g e t p r o p e r a s s is ta n c e d u r in g h e a rin g s on th e se a p p e a ls .

8.We have th o r o u g h ly c o n s id e re d th e s u b m issio n s made b y th e le a rn e d co un sel a nd have gone th r o u g h th e t e x t o f im p u g n e d p a r a g r a p h s . Para 23 p e rta in s to th e m anagem ent o f im p a rtib le jo in t h o ld in g s w h ic h has to be m anaged as a s in g le u n it a nd in th e e v e n t o f d is p u te re g a r d in g th e m anagem ent o f a n y su c h jo in t h o ld in g i t has been p ro v id e d th e r e in th a t th e c o - s h a r e r may se le ct one o f th e m se lve s b y d ra w in g o f lo ts o r o th e rw is e w ho w ill manage th e h o ld in g and fro m whom th e y w ill re c e iv e t h e ir s h a re o f income o r , in case th e c o - s h a r e r c a n n o t se le c t th e y may re q u e s t th e c o lle c to r o f th e d is t r ic t in w h ic h su c h h o ld in g s itu a te to nom inate one o f them to m anage th e same. I t has also been p ro v id e d th a t i f in th e o p in io n o f th e com m ission no a rra n g e m e n t f o r jo in t m anagem ent betw een c o -s h a re rs is p o s s ib le , th e com m ission may a c q u ire th e h o ld in g on p a ym e n t o f su c h co m p e n sa tio n as may be d e te rm in e d in th e p r e s c r ib e d m a n n e r.

9.So f a r as th e c o n te n ts o f p a ra 23 a re c o n c e rn e d th o s e are o n ly m a n a g e ria l in n a tu re a n d we c o u ld fin d n o th in g w h ic h can be h e ld r e p u g n a n t to th e in ju n c tio n s o f Isla m . T h e le a rn e d p e titio n e r was also n o t in a p o s itio n to p in - p o in t a n y th in g s p e c ific w h ic h is in c o n flic t w ith th e te a c h in g s o f H o ly Q u ra n a nd S u n n a h . T he litig a tio n s r e fe r r e d to b y th e le a rn e d co u n se l c o u ld be th e r e s u lt

S . P . N o . 1 0 / L o f 1990

o f m ism anagem ent and o th e r fa c to rs and n o t tfie r e s u lt o f th e se re fo rm s . U s u a lly th e litig a tio n s c o u ld a lw a y s be th e r e e ve n w ith o u t th e said R e g u la tio n . T h e p a ra u n d e r v ie w has d u ly c a te re d fo r re c e ip t o f s h a re in th e incom e a n d has p ro v id e d f u r t h e r rem edy a ls o , in 2 ( b ) , in a re a so n a b le m a n n e r. So f a r as th e d ra w in g o f lo ts is c o n c e rn e d it is n o t re p u g n a n t to th e in ju n c tio n s o f Islam i f i t is em p lo ye d f o r m a k in g d e c is io n s in some s itu a tio n s w h e re a ll p a r tic ip a n ts have o th e rw is e e q u a l r ig h t s a nd w h e re no one is deprived o f w h a t he a lre a d y has o r o f what he c o n tr ib u te s in th a t p ro c e s s .

T h e re a re a p p ro v e d examples in th e H o ly Q u ra n as w e ll as in th e S u n n a h o f H o ly P ro p h e t ( p -L -j &-Jj: sJJI ) w h ic h b y in fe re n c e m ake i t p e rm is s ib le f o r th e k in d o f cases m e n tio n e d h e re in . R eference m ay be g iv e n to v e rs e s 4 4 :3 , 139-141:37 a nd 6 8 :4 8 -5 0 . F o r A h a d ith a nd f u r t h e r d is c u s s io n please see " ^ J i ^ , i j _ ,^,n t| " j r o -l> ) a n d " 11 j > J I " b y Allam a

Ib n A I-Q a y y e m (P a g e 267 ) . R e g a rd in g th e a c q u is itio n o f la n d b y th e S ta te please see PLD 19 9 0 ,S uprem e C o u rt page 99. A re fe re n c e can also be g iv e n to a H a d ith n a r r a te d i n ' ^ l j w h e re in a palm tre e b e lo n g in g to Sam urah Ib n Ju n d a b p la n te d in th e fie ld o f an A s a ri was o rd e re d b y th e H o ly P ro p h e t( f^-l ...j i ^ l c sJJI (J_La ) to be u p r o o te d /c u t o f f as i t was a s o u rc e o f harm to th e hatter and h is fa m ily d u e to th e fo rm e r's v is its a nd w hen aske d he n e ith e r w a n te d to s e ll o r s h if t i t n o r was w illin g to g i f t i t to him .

11 l j l j * l—Aj U I ^ I j_>l < ^V f V IJ ^ 11 (j—•» g .»•**•*

10.P ara 22 places r e s tr ic t io n s c o f jo in t h o ld in g s w ith in o r e q u a l to o r less th a n th a t o f a s u b s is te n c e h o ld in g o r o f a n econ o m ic h o ld in g s , w ith c e r ta in c o n d itio n s , as m e ntione d in s u b - p a r a s 1 t o 5 . l e a g re e w ith th e le a rn e d p e titio n e r th a t Islam c o n s id e rs th e in d iv id u a l p r o p e r ty as h ig h ly s a c ro s a n c t, h o w e v e r, it w ill be a p p re c ia te d to n o te th a t th is p a ra does in no w ay n e g a te o r c o n tr a d ic t th e s a n c tity o f in d iv id u a l o w n e rs h ip . I t o n ly la y s an e m b a rg o on th e p a r t it io n o f jo in t h o ld in g s to save them fro m f u r t h e r to a c e r ta in e x te n t fr a g m e n ta tio n ^ . So th e b a s ic q u e s tio n o f im p o rta n c e to be decided in th e se S h a ra it P e titio n s is th e u r g n e c y o r o th e rw is e o f p a r titio n o f th e la n d e d p r o p e r t y , ow ned b y th e in d iv id u a ls , f o r th e p u rp o s e o f o w n e rs h ip a nd n o t th e q u e s tio n o f s a n c tity o f in d iv id u a l o w n e rs h ip as th a t is a d m itte d ly s a cre d a n d in v o iia b le .

11.As f a r as th e v e rs e s o f th e H oly Q u ra n r e fe r r e d to b y th e le a rn e d p e titio n e r a re c o n c e rn e d , i t is e v id e n t th a t th e f i r s t tw o v e rs e s N o .5:1 a n d 17:3*1 re la te to th e f u lf illm e n t o f c o v e n a n t whereas th e o th e rs re la te to th e fa c t th a t "u n to A lla h b e lo n g s w h a ts o e v e r is in th e h ea vens and w h a ts o e v e r is in th e e a r th " a n d th u s it is q u ite c le a r t h a t th e y a re v e r y m uch o ff th e p o in t w ith w h ic h we a re c o n c e rn e d now in th e s e p e titio n s .

R e g a rd in g th e q u o ta tio n fro m " p i-1 " as

re p ro d u c e d abo ve i t is to be n o te d th a t th e c ita tio n it s e lf is s e lf - e x p la n a to r y to c o n firm th a t m a kin g o f "W a q f" is p e rm is s ib le in a jo in t u n d iv id e d p r o p e r t y , w h ic h is e ith e r im p a rtib le o r is p a r tib le b u t is g o in g to be a d v e rs e ly a ffe c te d in its u tiliz a tio n d ue to th e

S . P . N o . 1 0 / L o f 1990

p a r t it io n . T h o u g h m a kin g "W a q f" in an u n d iv id e d jo m t ly ow ned p r o p e r ty f o r th e p u rp o s e o f m osque o r g r a v e y a r d has been h e ld as n o t permissible b y th e H a n a fi J u r is its ,w e may p o in t o u t th a t d e s p ite th is ju r is t ic o p in io n w h ic h we h o ld in v e r y h ig h esteem we fe e l c o n s tra in e d to m e n tio n th a t we d id n o t come a cro s s a n y v e rs e ( o f th e H o ly Q u ra n ) o r H a d ith w h ich c o u ld e n a b le us> a c c o rd in g to th e C o n s titu tio n a l p ro v is io n s ^ to d e c la re th e said p a ra as re p u g n a n t to th e In ju n c tio n s o f Islam on th e said g r o u n d .

T h e q u o ta tio n froro-r b y M r.R a fiu lla h

S hahab a n d th e A h a d ith r e fe r r e d to in th a t q u o ta tio n p e r ta in s to te n a n c y o f la n d as s ta te d b y th e le a ro e d a u th o r and a re n o t a t a ll r e le v a n t in th e p re s e n t c o n te x t.

T h e q u o ta tio n fro m " ■•i.iC l. L£ " b y D r . N a ja tu lla h

S id d iq u i re la te to th e in d iv id u a l o w n e rs h ip in p r o p e r ty a n d n o t to its p a r t it io n w h ic h in fa c t has been c h a lle n g e d in th e p e titio n . S im ila r ly ,th e q u o ta tio n fro m " f i - ' - L J . U - " b y M aulana S .A .M a w d o o d i also pertain to th e r ig h t o f in d iv id u a l o w n e rs h ip in m o va b le /im m o va b le p r o p e r t y , in h e rita n c e a n d m a kin g b e q u e s t w h ic h a re n o t d is p u te d in th e said R e g u la tio n . A s m e ntione d abo ve th e re le v a n t p o in t u n d e r c o n s id e ra tio n is th e u r g n e c y o f p a r titio n in g o f im m ovable p r o p e r t y , in th e lig h t o f o f Q u ra n a n d S u n n a h . I t may p o in te d o u t h e re th a t p ro b a b ly th e learned p e titio n e r m issed to a p p re c ia te th e s ig n ific a n c e o f fo llo w in g lin e s in th e se q u o ta tio n s w h ile m a kin g c ita tio n th e re fro m :

f t I k"‘ 1 I - I Lsw |S1 ElVi 1 J-S” ,j— iib - > wii ^ I

jJ u> L -u l 9u c j jS I ^ . .iJ '-H-S-U jl (_ 5-LS‘ lo 0-S,J < ^ ,5 ^

( c 2 ) ••• in’ll L_ij^ j l i i> I i jjl ^ i..i 11 i-S-iI

12.In th is c o n n e c tio n i t may mM be a p p re c ia te d th a t

p a r t it io n is not a n e c e s a ry c o n d itio n fo r o w n e rs h ip p u rp o s e s as an in d iv id u a l can be th e o w n e r in u n d iv id e d p r o p e r ty also and th e re c o u ld be c irc u m s ta n c e s w h e re in an in d iv id u a l may e n jo y the r ig h t s of h is o w n e rs h ip but may n o t be e n a b le d o r permitted t*

S . P . N o . t O / L o f 1990

d iv id e h is p r o p e r t y . Islam is a p ra c tic a l code o f life a n d ta k in g in to c o n s id e ra tio n a ll s o r t o f c irc u m s ta n c e s d u ly c a te rs f o r th e m .

T h e m ain o b je c tiv e s b e fo re Isla m ic le g is la tio n in te r a lia in c lu d e :

(a ) P re v e n tio n /R e p u ls io n o f h a rm .

(b ) P ro te c tio n /P ro m o tio n o f in te r e s ts .

A s ig n ific a n t p r in c ip le th a t r u n s lik e a g o ld e n c o rd in th e in ju n c tio n s o f Islam is to p r e v e n t a n y p o s s ib le harm a n d rem ove i t , in case i t is th e re ,fro m th e in d iv id u a ls as w ell as th e s o c ie ty .T h is p r in c ip le is m e ntione d b y th e H o ly P ro p h e t ( p___L $ sJJI .l5_L») in th e fo llo w in g w o rd s

" fit - ill ^ jljJ if j jjXI "

( i_ L _ i j £ - l I I *■ 1j I j YVT» u - 1■ » * I i— i L i i * I

k ' (Dam age a nd r e ta lia tio n b y damage is n o t a llo w e d ) .

Based on th is p r in c ip le a re m any in ju n c tio n s w h ic h need n o t be e n u m e ra te d h e re . A n o th e r im p o rta n t p r in c ip le th a t g it t e r s th ro u g h m any te a c h ig n s o f Islam is th e p r o te c tio n as w ell as p ro m o tio n o f in te r e s ts a t in d iv id u a l a nd c o lle c tiv e le v e ls . I t aims a t s a fe g u a rd in g th e in te r e s ts o f th e in d iv id u a ls interests a nd c a te r in g f o r them in th e social a n d n a tio n a l s p h e re s . T h is p r in c ip le fin d s m ention in v e rs e s 5 and 6 o f S u ra A l-N is a in th e fo llo w in g w o rd s :

'La-j— * f>.£J ii I 11 i_l^> I p ^ 11 j-o I * T ft. ..II 1

^ I ^ ~i 11 1j / I *I J 1 "t> 1j li~i ,)t j — jji I j J j _»j j

Ul Ha j i\ S L j i pft ni U 9 I J, .m ij pft-i.a f j — i . . 11 1

. . . C o n t 'd . . .P'TO

S . P . N o . l O / L o f 1990

^ ^a I ^ 4^ <,JlAr»1il_t(,fr L «■^ J 1j ^ I 1J I J_jJ

LJl»^ I j >a ’. Lj »a 1I >« l iJ I |*_j^_sj 1.3 L_$ -_9j jj~-o M_j " T o th o se weak o f u n d e rs ta d in g M ake n o t o v e r y o u r p r o p e r ty W hich A lla h h a th made A means o f s u p p o r t f o r y o u .

B u t feed a n d c lo th e them T h e re w ith , a n d spe a k to them W ords o f k in d n e s s a n d ju s tic e .

M ake t r ia l o f o rp h a s U n til th e y re a c h th e age O f m a rria g e ; i f th e n y e fin d S o und ju d g m e n t in them Release t h e ir p r o p e r ty to th e m ;

B u t consum e i t n o t w a s te fu lly N o r in h a ste a g a is n t t h e ir g ro w in g u p .

I f th e g u a rd ia n is w e ll- o ff, L e t him claim no re m u n e ra tio n .

B u t i f he is p o o r, le t him Have f o r h im s e lf w h a t is J u s t and re a s o n a b le .

When y e re le a se t h e ir p r o p e r ty T o th e m , ta k e w itn e sse s In t h e ir p re s e n c e :

B u t a ll- s u f f ic ie n t Is A lla h in ta k in g a c c o u n t". ( 4 :5 -6 )

C om m enting on th is v e r s e , A b d u lla h Y u s u f AM w r ite s :

"T h is a p p lie s to orphans b u t th e w o rd in g is p e r fe c tly g e n e ra l and d e fin e s p r in c ip le s lik e th o s e o f C h a n c e ry in E n g lis h Law and th e C o u rt o f W ards in In d ia n L aw . P r o p e rty has n o t o n ly its r ig h t s b u t also ; its r e s p o n s ib ilitie s ; h is r ig h t is lim ite d b y th e good o f th e c o m m u n ity o f w h ic h he is a m em ber, and i f he is in c a p a b le o f u n d e rs ta n d in g i t , h is c o n tr o l s h o u ld be re m o v e d . T h is does n o t mean t h a t he is h a r s h ly d e a lt w ith . On th e c o n tr a r y h is in te re s ts m ust be p r o te c te d , and he m u st be tre a te d w ith s p e cia l k in d n e s s because o f h is in c a p a c ity .

" Y o u r p r o p e r t y " : U ltim a te ly a ll p r o p e r ty b e lo n g s to th e C o m m u n ity , and is in te n d e d f o r th e s u p p o rt o f y o u , i. e . th e

S . P . N o . 10/L o f 1990

m c o m m u n ity , i t is h e ld in t r u s t b y a p a r tic u la r in d iv id u a l. I f he is in c a p a b le , he is p u t a s id e b u t g e n tly a nd w ith k in d n e s s . W hile his in c a p a c ity re m a in s , th e d u tie s a n d re s p o n s ib ilitie s d e v o lv e on h is g u a rd ia n e ve n m ore s t r i c t l y th a n in th e case o f th e o r ig in a l o w n e r;

f o r he may n o t ta k e a n y o f th e p r o f it s f o r h im s e lf u n le s s he is p o o r,a n d in t h a t case h is re m u n e ra tio n f o r h is tr o u b le m u st be on a a scale t h a t is no m ore th a n ju s t a n d re a so n a b le .

13.W hile a p p ly in g th e f i r s t p r in c ip le o f in th e in s ta n t ca se , th e M uslim J u r is t s have alm ost u n a n im o u s ly h e ld th a t th e in h e r ite d p r o p e r ty s h o u ld n o t be d iv id e d /p a r t it io n e d i f it is in ju r io u s /h a r m fu l to th e s h a re h o ld e r s . T h e d e ta ils can be p e ru s e d in alm ost a ll books o f F IQ H -e -ls la m i in th e c h a p te r on QISMAH ( u-iLil S ) . po r exam ple we f in d in a-^1 oa_J1 as fo llo w s :-. k 1 • L-Ik ■ ^ *■ ■ ^ J1 *1>1j J / * |j_» aL:usiL» ^^-Ic I_| IIn ili'if I >1 I.0~I?I|“> I a i 1 I » ' ■ It. L-S a J jJ I u j ^ .a- i ’i-.i j L £ ^ l j 1—9 S _i J jill j i l 1 ^_J-U a £ I j m1 j i Ai ^ I I

I A& ■ ■ I « j -I I1 |»JL9 ft-hjjp ■ "■ ’■£ "■ ■ ^ '•!- ‘VJ 1 f^ L -v l1 j B m i ~i l j ft j - i i * i j l J - j j —i j i%K J 1 I f t ^ j I J ^ L j J I jfc— I^J * - * I 1 ■ ■ l^1 I - A • 1 t ft ~i ^IS i | a > l j j j l —£ ,j t J ji/1 % £> j i- j L ~ i ^ J I I I ftl— I o ,.i 9 J ■- t . ... m II j , > |1 I. a i^ - i o l I I ffi o hi 1 i |»—I ftj Jjffl.J j i f i " i i i i i i j j i I I I »A _1 l I .8 irfi I j ^ r > I f t ~ i..i j - i l i I -1 * & f j - ui 11 *3 r «♦♦♦♦ y tL U l l_<J I I— « I I (ift 'l IWM.J J r.V-..wx -V J I jJI jj-ueJaulAJI 1JS j .cL S^JI ^ o \ jj_i ^j-oVI ,_g>j "&j j -j-< . J ^ a ia L e L iijl ft-.L f J-S1 VJl

" A n e s ta te may be d is t r ib u t e d on th e r e q u is itio n o f a n y one p a r tn e r ,w h o s e s h a re s e p a ra te ly is ca p a b le o f b e in g c o n v e rte d to u s e . - W here th e re s p e c tiv e s h a re o f each o f th e p a r tn e r s is ca p a b le o f b e in g s e p a ra te ly c o n v e rte d to u se , i f a n y one o f them dem and a p a r t it io n i t m ust be g r a n te d ; because p a r t it io n is an in d is p u ta b le r ig h t , w h e n r e q u ire d to a n y a r tic le ca p a b le o f

p a r t it io n ; as has been b e fo re e x p la ie n d . I f , o n th e c o n t r a r y , t h e s h a re o f one p a r tn e r o n ly be f i t f o r u s e ,a n d n o t th a t o f th e o th e r , because o f its b e in g e x tre m e ly s m a ll,a n d th e o w n e r o f th e g r e a te r s h a re dem and a p a r t it io n , t h e Kazee m ust g r a n t i t : b u t he m u st n o t g r a n t it a t th e r e q u is itio n o f th e o th e r p a r t n e r ; f o r as th e fo rm e r can re a p a b e n e fit fro m h is s h a r e ,h is dem and is w o r th y o f r e g a r d ; b u t as th e la tt e r can have no o th e r m o tive s f o r h is r e q u s iitio n th a n m a lic e ,a n d a d e s ire o f g iv in g tro u b le i t is n o t to be a tte n d e d to JASSAS h o ld s th e re v e rs e o f th is d o c tr in e ," b e c a u s e (s a y s he) th e g r e a t p a r tn e r , in m a kin g h is d e m a n d ,o cca sio n s an in ju r y to a n o th e r, w h ere as th e sm all p a r t n e r , in m a kin g h is dem and, s u b m its to h is ow n i n j u r y . " - Hakim S h a h e e d ,o n th e o th e r h a n d ,m e n tio n s in h is "M U K H T A S A R " th a t " th e Kazee m u st o r d e r th e p a r tito n a t th e re q u e s t o f e ith e r o f th e p a r tn e r s ; f o r th e g r e a t p a r tn e r is d e s iro u s o f e n jo y in g th e use o f h is s h a re ,a n d th e sm all p a r tn e r v o lu n t a r ily s u b m its to h is ow n in ju r y " T h e f i r s t o f th e se o p in io n s ,h o w e v e r,is th e most a u th e n tic .

I f th e s h a re s be s e p a ra te ly ,u s e le s s ,th e a s s e n t o f a ll th e p a rtie s is r e q u is it e , - I f th e s h a re s o f each o f th e p a r tn e r s be so v e r y sm all th a t th e y w o u ld s e p a ra te ly be o f no u se , th e Kazee m su t n o t o r d e r a p a r t it io n u n le s s b o th p a r tn e r s a c q u ie s c e ; f o r w h e n e v e r p a r t it io n is c o m p u ls iv e ly made, it is w ith a v ie w to p ro m o te u t i l i t y ; b u t , in th e p re s e n t in s ta n c e , a ll u t i l i t y w o u ld be d e s tro y e d b y it , and th e r e fo re i t c a n n o t ta k e pla ce w ith o u t th e c o n s e n t o f b o th th e p a r tn e r s , as th e y m ust n e c e s s a rily be th e b e st ju d g e s in a m a tte r w h ic h c o n c e rn s th e m s e lv e s , and th e Kazee can o n ly be g u id e d b y a p p e a ra n c e s ". . . .

P a rtitio n c a n n o t be made o f a b a th , m ill,o r w e ll, w it h ­ o u t th e c o n s e n t o f a ll th e p a r tie s . - T h e Kazee m sut n o t o r d e r th e p a r t it io n o f a jo in t m ill, b a th , o r w e ll, u n le s s w ith th e c o n c u rre n c e o f a ll th e p a r tn e r (a n d su c h also is th e r u le w ith re s p e c t to a w a ll w h ich s ta n d s b e tw ix t tw o h o u s e s ); f o r i t , in th e s e cases, a p a r t it io n w e re to ta k e p la c e , i t w o u ld be in ju r io u s to a il p a r tie s , as th e in d iv id u a l s h a re o f each w o u ld th e n be u s e le s s ".

S . P . N O . 1 0 / L of 1990

S im ila lry we fin d in a_U*JI

1 ^ - - «j I 1l^ - if M ^ -S s 1 ..-I t II il. a. i o -t ^ * <* ~ ... ~ .y n- . . ... « | ^ | J , j j* » 1 U I 1 y A< " * L ^ 1 ,j_ o J J - 1 j ^ S —i j J C i ftS I—*»- L I £ j iil—i y_S J J j- a J L jJ I i t J L o —1 1 C j j - i l i i > j_ J I I jL a j . a p i. i i ~i s I j j J L_i I f L £ j L J I - i> l i_ i IN i 1- ^ "■ - - » j-taj Jx^>L>l j j ji* ^ 11 >_i_iJ 1j a L ia J I j 11 j I 1i * j j - j ^ I- 1 11j j i i . y I I L>l-i.>.a jjL S La * Lftj-11 u .■ i V ^LaJI a.i> H j i - J I j ^ jmJ I j j j ^ io L a JI 1 L^.'-ua a»l j

" I n th e case o f c o rp o re a l p r o p e r ty ow ned in co m m o n ,th e d iv is io n o f w h ic h is in ju r io u s to a ll th e o w e n rs , p a r t it io n b y th e ju d g e is n o t a llo w e d .

F o r e x a m p le :- I f a m ill be d iv id e d i t can no lo n g e r be used as a m ill a g a in . In th is way th e use e x p e c te d fro m i t , is d e s tr o y e d . T h e re ­ f o r e ,th e ju d g e c a n n o t d iv id e it a t th e re q u e s t o f one o n ly o f th e jo jin t o w n e rs . B u t b y m utu al c o n s e n t it is d iv id e d .

A b a th ,a n d a w e ll, a n d an u n d e rg ro u n d w a te r p ip le , a nd a small room , a n d a w all betw een tw o houses a re s im ila r to t h is .

T h in g s lik e an anim al w ith a c a r ria g e a nd a sa d d le a n d arm s and th e sto n e o f a f in g e r r in g , w h ic h i t is n e c e s s a ry to s p lit a nd b re a k a re also o f th is s o r t. F or none o f them is p a r t it io n b y th e ju d g e a llo w e d ."

D r.W a h b a A l z u h a ili has b e a u tifu lly summed u p th e d is c u s s io n on th e s u b je c t in h is fam ous b o o k 1 aJLaJI v o lu m e -V , pages 667-670.

Some re le v a n t e x c e rp ts fro m h is book are re p ro d u c e d as fo llo w s : - " ^ jjj iu - jJ l ^LLJI J tjil' "

S . P . N o . t O / L o f 1990

" T h e second c o n d itio n is th a t th e p a r t it io n does n o t in v o lv e a n y harm — because i f th e r e is a n y harm th e d e s ire d a d v a n ta g e fro m th e p r o p e r ty may n o t be o b ta in e d ."

I I j J-Sj I ,jl_9 J JO Aam 1 11 jjL ^ Ij

M

c j j j l —J l j j —l_ j - U L £ .£«_)! JL oJI j _l>JI *— |*J J a jL a J lj A ar i.^» 11 j - ' I j tju I1 £ j m J I _J _ jJ I U l ^ j J 1 J 8j * i II J s L iJ I j Ij j-aJ I j I w j j L ^ J I j l i Vi j i H j js L a ^ J lj " I f th e d iv is io n /p a r itio n in g is h a rm fu l to each p a r t n e r , th e n fo rc e d p a r titio n in g is n o t p e rm is s ib le in th e common p r o p e r ty lik e p e a rl, r u b y , one d re s s , s a d d le , bow , H o ly Q u ra n , t e n t , w a ll, b a th , room , small s h o p , h o rs e , cam el, g o a t, cow . . . . because its harm e x te n d s to b o th th e p a r tn e r s s im u lta n o u s ly a nd th e Qazi is n o t a u th o ris e d to use fo rc e f o r h a rm in g th e m ." i- i- iftil a 1- u ^ i I _$ j j i J I lj.» J ^ 9 X .f a1 A ll ^J ^ L f lJ I AG i A I j p i i f i l_ o ^ I | jJ L i » ■ » II I ^ ■—■ 9*. i_, j 3j A x I 11 . j *-■*a ■ 11 xi •! X' A_i1

— JU JI l£ I—aI (j* i-i-sLa-J I I r

S . P . N o . 1 0 / L o f 1990

j-u>\ I j jLS’^l |jL jljl f L > j l j l j

— j>tl\ >_■— !/->_. Le«-JUI iSSs J_»^l

(jLSUI LwJUl ?SL>J\ : j_LL**JI J U S J * S 3

U I ^1 La j ini n i— i i ’Ci j - L 1 ^LsCOl Ij A.o.niJ I I L j L> JL ^ J I

j j >& L h -n J j L ^ , j L j I f t j l I 11 iX . i .C f l.a ... lJ 11 < j< o J * * J "■ ’'■ ■ p I...j fl- J - L f . & D I i,j- L ^ i i II ^ ’ L ’i. o 11 j- ^ r f |9—1 — j' >»

yLtfU ^ i i rj jj | J ^ > |j al * II . i‘.f I jja J [^

1 j x —O —>-j |» 1 j * * &_i i j> & ju b J 1 ? l 1 (J ^ ^

— 1 -S j Z ^ j- 9 - w jj^ J I j »«I» J 1

*_, LLL9I J L J ^ L o J l ^ 1 o ^O 1 : M -IU J I J U j

J LaJ I LS-! ^ 1Lo 1^ L&Lw 1 ^.oiinfcj I I ^ Ij* ^ .> 1 j ^ ■ * j ^/LS* ^1—w j L mj J_ki-S

" T h e p o in t o f v ie w o f S h a fi’ e in re s p e c t o f d iv is io n in case o f harm and co m p u lsio n is alm ost th e same as th a t o f H a n a fi.T h e y say in case th e harm o f th e p a r t it io n is g re a t a n d i f its p re s e n t d e s ire d b e n e fit is d e s tro y e d in to to e .g .p e a r l, p r e c io u s ,c lo th e s , th e Qazi w ill r e fr a in them fro m its d iv is io n and th e y w ill u tiliz e it in r o ta tio n and i f its u t i l i t y is n o t d e s tro y e d in to to b u t th e a d v a n ta g e s is d e m in ish e d lik e a s w o rd i f b r o k e n ,o r its a c tu a l b e n e fit is d e s tro y e d lik e a b a th o r sm all w a te r m ill,t h e Qazi w o n’ t d e s is t them a n d w o n ’t a c c e p t t h e ir dem and f o r d iv is io n because i t w ill d e s tr o y th e p r o p e r t y . I f th e r e is some common p r o p e r ty betw een them w h e re in one has small s h a re i . e . l / I O t h o f a house o r b o th o r la n d a n d th e o th e r ow ns th e re m a in in g m ajor p o r tio n he w ill com pel th e o w n e r o f th e s m a lle r p o r tio n on d iv is io n i f dem anded b y th e o th e r b u t n o t v ic e -v e r s a .H a n b a li s c h o la r also h o ld th e same o p in io n .T h e y say th a t th e R u le r w ill com pel them on d iv is io n i f th e p r o p e r ty is d iv id a b le a n d c o u ld be u tiliz e d b y them in d iv id e d c o n d it io n . it means th e d iv is io n is a llo w e d b y them on th e c o n d itio n t h a t i t is fre e fro m d a m a g e ,lo s s ,h a r m , in ju r y . I f th e r e is some harm th e p e rs o n w ho re fu s e s to d iv id e w o n ’ t be com pelled as th e H o ly P ro p h e t (P B U H ) s a id , " j ' j *® " .

T h e dam age w h ic h a c c o rd in g to S h a fi’e a n d A hm ad makes th e d iv is io n p r o h ib ite d is th a t th e p r ic e o f s h a re o f each p a r tn e r is d e m in ish e d due to the division as coirtpaieu to its price if it remains u n d iv id e d , e ve n i f th e y may u tiliz e i t in d iv id e d c o n d itio n o r n o t,b e c a u s e lo ss m p r ic e is a dam age a n d a dam age is n o t a llo w e d in s h a r ia h . M a lik iy y a - h o ld th e o p in io n th a t i f th e jo in t ly ow ned p r o p e r ty c o u ld be

S . P . N o . l O / L o f 1990

4 w ith o u t a n y harm lik e la n d e tc th e one w ho re fu s e s to d iv id e w ill be com pelled and i f th e jo in t p r o p e r ty c a n n o t be d iv id e d lik e sm all s h o p ,s m a ll room , s w o rd , th e same w ill be s o ld a n d its p ric e w ill be d is tr ib u te d b etw e en th e p a r tn e r s in p r o p o r tio n o f t h e ir s h a r e s . . . .

T h e a b o ve m e n tio n e d v ie w s show th a t th e S ta te is authoris to use it s d is c re tio n in th e c irc u m s ta n c e s o f each case and allow o r d is a llo w th e p a r t it io n in g o f jo in t ly ow ned p r o p e r tie s . T he se vie w s) place re lia n c e on th e fo llo w in g t r a d it io n : -

( ^ / 11 J1 nf 11j — . |fi hi t 11 l_a u I _^-i.n 11 J a I V f f *1

" D iv is io n / p a r titio n o f th e p r o p e r ty is n o t b in d in g on th e in h e r ito r s e x c e p t w hen th e p r o p e r ty is p a r t ib le " .

If* . I t is e v id e n t fro m th e abo ve d is c u s s io n th a t th e d iv is io n o f jo in t p r o p e r ty w o u ld be a llo w e d on th e re q u is itio n o f th e p a r tn e r s p ro v id e d t h a t th e re s p e c tiv e s h a re o f each o f th e p a r tn e r is ca p a b le o f b e in g s e p a ra te ly c o n v e rte d to use a n d none is s u b ­ je c te d to h a rm . A c c o rd in g to Imam S h a fie a nd Imam A h m a d ,e v e n th e ) c o m p a ra tiv e decrease in p r ic e in case o f p a r t it io n is also su c h a harm th a t d is a llo w s th e p a r t it io n . C o n s id e rin g a ll th e s e a sp e cts one can s a fe ly c o n c lu d e th a t d e cre a se in th e in d iv id u a l a nd consequently h a rm fu l in th e n a tio n a l p ro d u c e c o u ld also be a /c o n d itio n w h ic h in principles may c a ll f o r im p o s itio n o f em bargo on p a r t it io n o f la n d , w h ic h is less th a n a c e r ta in a re a ,a s s p e c ifie d in th e said R e g u la tio n . H e re th e e m b a rg o is o n ly on th e p a r t it io n o f p r o p e r ty in th e in d iv id u a l as w e ll as n a tio n a l itn e r e s t ,w it h o u t a n y in te r fe re n c e w ith th e r ig h t o f in d iv id u a l o w n e rs h ip ,w h e re a s th e Isla m ic S ta te , w ith c e r ta in c o n d i­ tio n s , is also a u th o ris e d e ve n to a c q u ire th e same in th e la r g e r n a tio n a l in te r e s t s ,a ft e r th e p a ym e n t o f p ro p e r c o m p e n s a tio n ,if u r g e n t ly required to do so.The individual interests are sacred no doubt but

S . P . N o . l O / L o f 1990

n a tio n a l in te r e s ts a re su p re m e a n d in case o f c la s h b etw e en th e tw o , th e la t t e r h a v e a p r i o r i t y . T h e re fo r e in Isla m ic le g is la tio n , b o th th e in d iv id u a l a nd c o lle c tiv e in te r e s ts a re s a fe g u a rd e d , p ro te c te d a n d p ro m o te d to g e th e r s id e b y sid e as f a r as p o s s ib le .

H o w e ve r w h e re th e re a re c la s h in g s itu a tio n s ,th e in d iv id u a l may be s u b je c te d to a lit t le b it in c o n v e n ie n c e , h a rd s h ip o r d is a d v a n ­ ta g e f o r th e sake o f p u b lic a t la rg e . In m any c a s e s ,to a ch ie ve th is e n d in a b a lanced m a n n e r, th e a b s o lu te r ig h t o f in d iv id u a l fre e d o m is r e s tr ic t e d , h is a c tiv itie s a re c o n tro lle d a nd h is u n b r id le d p a ssio n s a re c u rb e d so as to m ake them b e n e fic ia l to h is ow n a d v a n ta g e as w e ll as to th o s e o f th e n a tio n as a w h o le .

15.T h e idea f o r th e sa id R e g u la tio n as c le a r ly sp e lle d k

o u t in its p re a m b le is o n ly to make a g r ic u lt u r e a p r o fita b le v o c a tio n a nd im p ro v e th e econom ic w e ll-b e in g o f th e p e a s a n try in th e su prem e n a tio n a l in te r e s t o f th e c o u n tr y . T h e mode a d o p te d to a ch ie v e th is aim and keep th e a g r ic u lt u r e system in ta c t is to p u t a s to p on f u r t h e r d iv is io n o f th e p r o p e r ty in su ch sm all pieces w h ic h a re n o t s u ita b le f o r a g r ic u lt u r e p u rp o s e s .

T h e said R e g u la tio n in te n d s to re ta in th e Econom ic h o ld in g s and S u b s is te n c e h o ld in g s in ta c t as s o lid u n its o n ly f o r th e p u rp o s e o f c u ltiv a tio n so th a t b y in c re a s in g th e n a tio n a l p ro d u c tio n it may n o t o n ly b e n e fit th e o w n e r o f th e p r o p e r ty b u t also c a te r

S . P . N o . l O / L of 1990

f o r th e la r g e r In te re s ts o f th e Ummah as a w h o le . P a kista n is a p r im a r ily an a g r ic u lt u r a l c o u n tr y and th e r e fo r e i f o u r a g r ic u lt u r e is n o t s o u n d , o u r econom y c a n n o t p r o s p e r . I t is because o f th is re a liz a tio n th a t th is fie ld has a ttr a c te d a lo t o f n a tio n a l a tte n tio n and p ro b a b ly a g r ic u lt u r e is lik e ly to rem ain e.

d o m in a n t s e c to r f o r s e v e ra l m ore d e ca des. U n fo r tu n a te ly P a kista n which h a s s u f fic ie n t la nded re s o u rc e s t$9K is s t ill v e r y much in need o f im p o rtin g w h e a t e tc . In tr o d u c tio n o f new te c h n o lo g ie s s u p p o rte d b y a p p ro p ria te n a tio n a l p o lic ie s w ith p r o p e r ly p la n n e d a c tio n s a n d w e ll- d ire c te d fo llo w u p m easures can n o t o n ly b r in g a b o u t s e lf s u ffic ie n c y b u t also w ill e n s u re n a tio n a l p r o s p e r ity in a ll re s p e c ts . I t a p p e a rs th a t b y th is R e g u la tio n e f f o r t has been made to ta c k le th is is s u e r A lth o u g h th e le a rn e d co u n se l who k a p p e a re d on b e h a lf o f A d v o c a te G e n e ra l,P u n ja b d id n o t p ro d u c e a n y d a ta w h ic h c o u ld s p e c ific a lly show w h a t c o rre s p o n d in g in c re a s e in th e n a tio n a l p ro d u c tio n has sin ce th e n ta k e n p la ce , h o w e v e r, th e r e can be no d o u b t th a t c o o p e ra tiv e fa rm in g is a lw a ys b e n e fic ia l f o r b o o s tin g a g r ic u lt u r a l econ om y.

16.R e g a rd in g th e s u b m issio n s o f th e le a rn e d p e titio n e r a t p a ra 4 (b ) i t may s u ffic e to say th a t th e m eaning o f A h a d ith is miscQhceivedibyibiin.lt may be n o te d w ith c a re th a t th e r e a re s e v e ra l A h a d ith on th e s u b je c t b u t th e em phasis in a ll o f th e a is on c u ltiv a tio n and n o t on th e o w n e r o f th e p r o p e r t y .

g y ;

H a d ith r e fe r r e d to b y th e le a rn e d p e titio n e r is as fo llo w s :

j-J l j L —iL-- I j-LS " J L J s_±£ j_U ) j j*. pL> ,j £

iJ * -1-3 s—1c jJ J I ,j-Lo ^ i ~i 1! J L j jj .-ia-jJ| ,

• ■ 'C- n i 1j J i* -i j |»—1 ^ L i La'.^ i ui-j .1 _g! L.-c j j . I « -r‘ \-r£ i < r J-l> ^ j L ^ J I £_j^s )

I _^*U1 IjJ - ’ f j - _.A.- . mAar-i aJJI ^_uJ| . J j ^ . 1 •■.-1...I I i I

" J a b ir says th a t th e H o ly P ro p h e t( f-l~ 3 a^-lc aJJl (_5-La) s a id , “ O ne w ho ow ns la n d m ust c u ltiv a te i t h im s e lf, o r bestow i t fre e ( i. e . le n d i t to a n o th e r p e rs o n fo r c u lt iv a t io n ) , i f he does n o t do th is le t him re ta in it."

A s is a p p a re n t fro m it s p la in r e a d in g , i t means s im p ly to h ig h lig h t th e fa c t th a t th e la n d s h o u ld n o t be le ft u n c u ltiv a te d .

In case a p e rs o n is u n a b le to t i l l i t h im s e lf, th e same s h o u ld be g iv e n to a n o th e r p e rs o n f o r c u ltiv a tio n . T h e se A h a d ith f u r t h e r le n d s u p p o r t to th e plea th a t th e land s h o u l d be f u l l y u tiliz e d to in c re a s e th e a g r ic u lt u r a l p r o d u c tio n . In th e p re s e n t tim es one can see th a t w ith th e in v e n tio n and u tiliz a tio n o f m odern m achanical in s tr u m e n ts , c o n s tr u c tio n o f new ir r ig a t io n te c h n iq u e s n e tw o rk s a nd a d v a n c e d /o f t illin g , r e a p in g and t h r e s h in g e t c . , th e p ro s p e c ts f o r b o o s tin g o f a g r ic u lt u r e econom y a re q u ite e n c o u ra g in g a nd w ith th e h e lp o f a d m in is tra tiv e re fo rm s lik e th e one u n d e r c o n s id e ra tio n , th e d e s ira b le le ve l o f s e lf s u ffic ie n c y can be h o p e fu ily o b ta in e d .

1-7. I t may be m e ntione d h e re th a t F e d e ra l S h a ria t C o u rt in S h a ria t P e titio n N0 . I 4 / L o f 1988 a n d S h a ria t P e titio n

S. P. N o .l O / L o f 1990

o f 1989, w h e re b y p a ra 2H o f th e R e g u la tio n , p e r ta in in g to re s tric tio n s on a lie n a tio n o f h o ld in g s ( b y sa le , m o rtg a te , g i f t o r o th e rw is e ) had been c h a lle n g e d , has h e ld th e sa id p a ra r e p u g n a n t to th e in ju n c tio n s o f Islam as c o n ta in e d in th e H oly Q u ra n a nd S u n n a h . M o re o v e r i t may also be n o te d th a t p a ra 5 (c) e x c lu d e s th e a p p lic a tio n o f p a ra 22 to sm all s tr ip e s o f land bona fid e r e q u r ie d f o r th e p u rp o s e o f b u ild in g th e re o n . K e e p in g in v ie w th e se tw o o b s e rv a tio n s a nd th e p o s itio n e x p la in e d a t para 11, s u b m issio n o f th e le a rn e d p e titio n e r made a t p a ra 4 (c ) abo ve a lso lose fo rc e .

18.In v ie w o f th e abo ve we have come to th e c o n c lu s io n th a t th e im p u g n e d p a ra s a re n o t fo u n d re p u g n a n t to th e In ju n c tio n s o f Islam as c o n ta in e d in th e H o ly Q u ra n a nd S unnah o f th e H o ly P ro p h e t ( H - j 4-*-l£ a- 1' 11 ) . C o n s e q u e n tly f in d in g th e p e titio n s w ith o u t m e rit we d ism iss them a c c o r d in g ly .

( D R .F ID A M UHAMMAD K H A N )

Ju d g e

i . ) ' ^

(D R .T A N Z IL -U R -R A H M A N )

C h ie f J u s tic e