Property Disputes from Abroad
Encroachment, illegal occupation, fraudulent transfer and disputes with co-owners — recovered and defended while you remain outside Pakistan.
Instructed from abroadWhy It Matters
Distance is what makes these matters go wrong.
A plot left unattended, an estate left undistributed, a tenant who stops paying — none of these improve while you are out of the country.
The pattern is familiar. Property bought years ago is occupied by someone claiming a right to it. A relative sells land using a power of attorney that was never valid. An inheritance sits undistributed because one heir cannot travel and the bank will not release funds without a succession certificate. By the time the family in Pakistan mentions it, the position has usually hardened.
The firm has acted for overseas clients for decades, and the single most useful thing we do is act early. A title search and a letter at the right moment routinely prevent litigation that would otherwise run for years.
What We Handle
The matters overseas clients bring us.
Inheritance & Succession for Overseas Heirs
Succession certificates, letters of administration and the distribution of estates where the heirs live in different countries.
Powers of Attorney for Use in Pakistan
Drafting, executing and attesting a power of attorney abroad so that it is actually accepted by courts, banks and registrars in Pakistan.
Family Matters from Abroad
Dissolution of marriage, khula, maintenance, custody and guardianship where one party lives outside Pakistan.
Nationality, CNIC & Documentation
Citizenship and dual nationality, CNIC and NICOP issues, and correcting records that block a transaction or an inheritance.
Litigation in your absence
Prosecuting or defending civil suits, appeals and execution proceedings under a power of attorney, with your personal attendance required only rarely and by arrangement.
How It Works
Four steps, none of which require a flight.
Tell us the position
Email an outline of the matter with any documents you hold — title papers, a death certificate, correspondence, an FIR. A first exchange costs nothing and often establishes quickly whether action is needed.
We investigate and advise
We search the relevant records in Pakistan and give you a written view of the position, the options, the likely timeline and the cost. Where there is no viable claim, we say so.
Execute a power of attorney
We draft the instrument and tell you exactly where to sign and which attestations are required — normally the Pakistani mission in your country of residence, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
We act, and you are kept informed
The matter proceeds in Pakistan while you remain abroad. You receive updates at each stage without having to chase, and we work to your time zone for calls.
Common Questions
Acting from abroad: frequently asked
Can you act for me in Pakistan if I live abroad?
Yes. Almost every step in a property, succession, family or civil matter can be conducted under a properly executed and attested power of attorney. Personal attendance in Pakistan is required only rarely, and where it is, we tell you well in advance.
How do I execute a power of attorney from abroad?
The instrument must generally be signed before, and attested by, the Pakistani Embassy, High Commission or Consulate in your country of residence, and then attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan. We draft it to cover the specific acts required and set out each attestation step, because an incorrectly attested power is routinely refused.
Someone has occupied my property in Karachi. What can I do from abroad?
Act quickly — delay weakens the position materially. Depending on the facts, the remedies include a suit for possession, an injunction restraining further construction or transfer, and in some cases a criminal complaint. We can begin the investigation on your instructions by email and move to court under a power of attorney.
My father died in Pakistan and the heirs live in different countries. What happens?
The estate is dealt with through a succession certificate for movable assets and, where required, letters of administration. Heirs abroad usually participate through attested powers of attorney and affidavits sworn at the Pakistani mission, so they need not travel. We coordinate the process so that it moves at the pace of the documents rather than the diaries.
How do you charge overseas clients?
Fees are agreed in advance and confirmed in writing before work begins. For defined pieces of work — an opinion, a due diligence report, a succession certificate — we quote a fixed fee. Contentious matters are quoted differently and we explain the basis clearly at the outset.
What time can I speak to someone?
The chambers are open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time. For clients in the Gulf, the UK, Europe, North America and Australia we arrange calls outside those hours by appointment.
Enquiries Welcome
Wherever you are, the matter is here.
Hafiz Abdul Baqi & Co has acted for Pakistani families abroad since 1959. An initial consultation carries no obligation.