Inheritance certificates to now be issued within 15 days, says PM Imran Khan

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday announced that inheritance certificates would now be issued within 15 days.

Addressing the launching ceremony of Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates, the prime minister said the reason behind the corrective measure is to make the life of a common man easier.

He lamented that the land mafia illegally takes hold of their plots, while noting that half of the pending cases in the courts were of land disputes.

"We are trying to bring reforms and change our justice system for the better," he said, adding that it would be another step towards providing relief to the people.

Criminal justice system needs work

The prime minister  said that Pakistan's criminal justice system needs to be reworked as the current setup encourages crime.

He said that "once the culprits face punishments for their crimes, the crime rate would eventually fall in the country."

"A civilised society gives a message: Crime does not pay," he said, stressing the need for reforms in the criminal justice system.

Madina-like state

Reiterating his resolve for transforming Pakistan into a Madina-like state, he said: "In the state of Madina, monarchy did not exist."

The state was based on the principles of equality and justice, he said, adding that people do not know that it was a "modern-day state."

According to Radio Pakistan, the law ministry has devised a mechanism to establish Succession Facilitation Units in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for the issuance of Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates within 15 days of initiation of the application by the legal heirs of the deceased.

Previously, it normally took two to seven years to get a simple Letter of Administration or Succession Certificate, however, it will now take only 15 days.

"People friendly law reforms were being considered crucial by the present government aimed at ensuring justice through people-friendly legislation.

One of the most important pieces of legislation that was enacted in this regard was The Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates Act, 2020."

The Act was crucial to address a common problem faced by the legal heirs of the deceased in the issuance of Letters of Administration and Succession Certificates, it added.