Ordinance bans transfer of enemy property

The government on Friday promulgated an ordinance banning transfer of property of people who migrated to Pakistan after the 1965 and 1971 wars.

According to the ordinance that amends the Enemy Property Act of 1968, custodians of “enemy property” will continue to hold these assets of persons who took Pakistani nationality after 1965 and 1971 wars and will not be able to transfer them.

The amendments through the ordinance include that once an enemy property is vested in the custodian, it should continue to be vested in him as enemy property irrespective of whether the enemy, enemy subject or enemy firm has ceased to be an enemy due to  reasons such as death etc., an official statement said.

Enemy properties are properties and companies left behind by people who took Pakistani nationality after 1965 and 1971 wars and taken over by the government.

After the 1965 war, India and Pakistan signed the Tashkent Declaration on January 10, 1966.

Pakistan, however, disposed of all such properties in their country in 1971.