A private member’s bill has been submitted to the Punjab Assembly to reform inheritance laws for the Christian community. The proposed legislation seeks several changes to the existing legal framework.
The Punjab Christian Succession Bill 2026 was submitted by Philbos Christopher. He is chairman of the Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Minority Affairs.
The proposed bill aims to introduce a separate inheritance framework for the Christian community. Christopher said the current law dates back to 1925.
The existing legal framework also applies to Jains, Parsis, and Buddhists. According to Christopher, a separate law could address specific inheritance matters affecting Christians.
One major provision concerns the rights of adopted children. Under the proposed legislation, legally adopted children would receive equal inheritance rights.
They would have the same rights as biological children when inheriting property. The bill also proposes equal distribution among children from different marriages.
This provision would apply to families where a deceased person had children from multiple marriages. It would also cover inheritance involving step-siblings under the proposed framework.
The bill sets out rules for situations where a Christian dies without leaving a will. In such cases, a surviving widow would receive one-third of the estate.
The remaining property would be distributed among other eligible legal heirs. If the deceased has no children, the widow would receive half of the estate.
The other half would be distributed among eligible relatives under the proposed rules. If no children or recognized relatives exist, the widow would receive the entire estate.
Similar provisions would apply to a surviving husband. He would receive the same inheritance rights if his wife dies without leaving a will.
The proposed legislation also establishes equal inheritance shares for children. It includes provisions for descendants when an eligible child dies before the deceased.
In such cases, the child’s descendants would inherit the share their parent would have received. This provision is intended to clarify inheritance rights across generations.
The Christian Succession Bill also addresses wills and their validity. Mentally competent adult Christians would be allowed to decide how their property should be distributed.
However, a will created through fraud, coercion, or undue pressure would be considered invalid. The provision aims to provide legal protection against forced or fraudulent wills.
The bill also proposes changes to the process for obtaining succession certificates. Applicants could approach NADRA or a competent civil court.
Christopher said the proposed legislation could benefit around 2.5 million Christians in Punjab. He said it would strengthen inheritance rights within the community.
The bill is expected to be formally introduced during the Punjab Assembly’s next session. It would then be referred to a relevant committee for examination.
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As a private member’s bill, the proposal will undergo the legislative process before any final decision. Further changes could be considered during the review process.
