POWER, POVERTY, AND PROPERTY: HOW SOCIO-ECONOMIC INEQUITIES FUEL LAND LITIGATION IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

The main purposes of this paper are to address the socio-economic determinants of rising the land litigation cases in Pakistan. The main data were obtained by conducting interview and focus group discussion with the officers of revenue department and lawyer involved in land litigation. A total of fifteen key themes were identified during the QCA sessions, namely, inheritance disputes, lack of alternative economic activities, land grabbing and encroachment, speculation and real estate, rural power relations, unequal access to legal resources, land as power, migration and displacement, economic value of land, urbanization and population growth, cultural practices and traditions, poverty and landless, lack of awareness / education, economic divide and gender inequality. It will also be instrumental in evolving such policy in order to keep to a minimal the cases of land litigation that come up as a result of socio-economic factor and inequalities.