Sindh High Court Declares Pakistan Reinsurance Company’s Petition Inadmissible in Property Dispute Case

Karachi: The Sindh High Court has declared inadmissible a petition filed by Pakistan Reinsurance Company challenging the sealing of its building located on M.A. Jinnah Road in Karachi and directed the petitioner to seek relief through the appropriate legal forum under the relevant law.

During the hearing, counsel for Pakistan Reinsurance Company argued that the property legally belongs to the company and was transferred to the Pakistan Insurance Corporation under an agreement executed in 1959. The petitioner contended that the Evacuee Trust Property Board sealed the building in May without prior notice, severely affecting access to official records and disrupting business operations.

The company’s lawyer requested the court to order the de-sealing of the premises and restore its possession.

In response, counsel for the Evacuee Trust Property Board maintained that the building is a registered trust property and that a gazette notification regarding its status was issued in 1963. The Board’s counsel informed the court that, in compliance with Supreme Court directives, it has been taking action to recover trust properties from unauthorized occupants.

The court was told that Pakistan Reinsurance Company had been served with show-cause and legal notices but failed to establish ownership of the property. Following the completion of legal formalities, the building was sealed with the assistance of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The Sindh High Court observed that the case involves complex legal questions concerning the validity of historical agreements and the actions taken by the Evacuee Trust Property Board. It noted that resolving the dispute would require a detailed examination of documentary evidence and official records.

The court further held that questions relating to ownership and possession of the property cannot be adjudicated through a constitutional petition filed under Article 199 of the Constitution. It also pointed out that an appropriate statutory appellate forum is available for challenging the Board’s actions.

Accordingly, the Sindh High Court dismissed the petition as non-maintainable and directed Pakistan Reinsurance Company to pursue its claim before the competent legal forum for the resolution of the ownership dispute.