Inheritance is distributed according to Sect
PLJ 2003 · Lahore High Court
This case from the Lahore High Court dealt with a family inheritance dispute that hinged on an unusual question: what religious sect did the deceased landowner belong to at the time of his death?
A man named Shukar died in 1941, leaving land that was initially given to his widow as a life estate. Later, under personal law reforms, this life estate ended and revenue authorities transferred the property to his widow and two daughters, after determining that Shukar was Shia by faith (which affects how inheritance shares are calculated under Muslim law). Distant relatives of Shukar, who stood to inherit a share only if he was Sunni, challenged this in civil court, claiming he was actually Sunni.
The trial court agreed that Shukar was Shia and ruled against the distant relatives, but the first appellate court reversed this, saying there wasn't enough proof of his sect and that evidence from earlier mutation proceedings shouldn't have been considered.
The High Court restored the trial court's decision. It held that documentary proof of someone's religious sect isn't required, and that people can change their sect during their lifetime. Crucially, a relative who himself stood to gain by claiming Shukar was Sunni had earlier testified, against his own interest, that Shukar was Shia. The court found this kind of admission highly credible. It also ruled that evidence from mutation proceedings could properly be considered by civil courts, reinstating the widow and daughters' full inheritance rights.
لاہور ہائی کورٹ کا یہ مقدمہ وراثت کے ایک خاندانی تنازعے سے متعلق تھا جس کا فیصلہ ایک غیرمعمولی سوال پر منحصر تھا: متوفی زمیندار اپنی وفات کے وقت مذہبی اعتبار سے کس فرقے سے تعلق رکھتا تھا؟
شکر نامی ایک شخص 1941ء میں فوت ہوا اور اپنے پیچھے زمین چھوڑ گیا جو ابتدا میں اس کی بیوہ کو بطور حیات بھر ملکیت (لائف اسٹیٹ) دی گئی۔ بعد ازاں ذاتی قانون میں اصلاحات کے تحت یہ حیات بھر ملکیت ختم ہو گئی اور محصولاتی حکام نے، یہ طے کرنے کے بعد کہ شکر مذہباً شیعہ تھا (جو کہ مسلم قانون کے تحت وراثتی حصوں کے تعین پر اثرانداز ہوتا ہے)، جائیداد اس کی بیوہ اور دو بیٹیوں کے نام منتقل کر دی۔ شکر کے دور کے رشتہ داروں نے، جو صرف اس صورت میں وراثت میں حصہ پانے کے حق دار تھے اگر وہ سنی ہوتا، اس فیصلے کو دیوانی عدالت میں چیلنج کیا اور دعویٰ کیا کہ وہ دراصل سنی تھا۔
ٹرائل کورٹ نے اس بات سے اتفاق کیا کہ شکر شیعہ ت