Islamabad (Pakistan Khabar) — The Supreme Court has provided relief to Zaitoon Bibi, a resident of Dera Ismail Khan, in an inheritance property case nearly half a century later, ordering the implementation of a 2022 judgment.
A three-member bench comprising Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Malik Shahzad and Justice Salahuddin announced the judgment in the case.
The court rejected the opposing party’s request to recall the decision dismissing its review petition and directed that the 2022 judgment issued in favor of Zaitoon Bibi be implemented.
The Supreme Court had dismissed the review petition in 2024; however, the apex court expressed strong displeasure over the failure to implement its order.
The court remarked that the judicial system depends on trust, discipline and respect for judicial orders, making compliance with court decisions essential under all circumstances. The court also observed that treating the relief granted as merely a formality was regrettable.
According to the Supreme Court, conditional adjournment had been granted in the review case on March 4, 2024. However, when another request for adjournment was made on September 12, the case was dismissed for non-prosecution.
The court held that recalling the decision dismissing the review petition at this stage would effectively amount to recalling the order of March 4, 2024, which could not be permitted.
According to court records, Zaitoon Bibi’s father died in 1976, after which she was deprived of her rightful share in her inherited property.