Rs 4.1bn Property Restored to Women in One Year: Women Ombudsperson KP Report
Provincial Ombudsperson for Protection of Women Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rubab Mehdi’s Report
Published August 18, 2026 | 08:30 PM (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 18th Aug, 2026)
PESHAWAR, (APP) – Provincial Ombudsperson for Protection of Women Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rubab Mehdi, has released her first annual performance report, highlighting significant achievements in restoring women’s property rights. Over the past year, women across the province were awarded property worth Rs 4.10 billion, and over 20,000 hearings have been conducted to date.
Addressing Press Conference
During a press conference, Mehdi stated that her office, established under the constitution, provides swift and affordable justice to marginalized segments of society, particularly women who cannot afford the lengthy delays and costs associated with traditional courts. The office’s mandate covers two key laws: the Protection Against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Enforcement of Women’s Property Rights Act, 2019.
Clearing Backlog and Improved Access to Justice
When Mehdi took office, there was a significant backlog of 2,397 pending cases. Under the previous system, only 20-25 cases were heard daily. Her office successfully cleared this backlog within four months, increasing the daily cause list to 80-120 cases. Now, the office receives 15-20 new complaints daily, ensuring a hearing date within 15-20 days for complainants.
Mehdi clarified that legal representation is not mandatory, allowing citizens to pursue their cases without a lawyer if they choose. To ensure enforcement of rulings, MOUs have been signed with the National Assembly and the Provincial Assembly. For transparency, an official website was launched, and an agreement with Pakistan Post was made to make correspondence traceable.
Enforcing Property Rights and Open Courts
The office dispatches commissions to resolve property-related cases where revenue records are deficient or implementation of orders faces obstruction. So far, 226 commissions have been constituted, with 144 completed, resulting in women receiving keys to their homes.
Open courts were held across all divisions of the province, including Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Hazara, and Malakand, enabling women to receive on-the-spot relief. Approximately 97% of complaints raised at these open courts were resolved immediately.
Awareness and Education Initiatives
The office recently hosted a webinar with vice chancellors of 48 universities to raise awareness about the Harassment Act and establish inquiry committees at every institution. Additionally, nearly 900 testimonials have been compiled, recorded with the consent of women who have successfully recovered their rights.
