Court frees man allegedly confined amid family property dispute 

The Lahore High Court has ordered the immediate release of a man who was allegedly admitted to a mental health

The Lahore High Court has ordered the immediate release of a man who was allegedly admitted to a mental health rehabilitation centre following a property dispute involving his family.

The case came before the court after a petition claimed that Nasir Khan Daulatana had been unlawfully confined despite being mentally fit. The matter was heard by Justice Farooq Haider, while police from Shadman Police Station produced Daulatana before the court during the proceedings.

According to the petitioner, represented by Advocate Sughra Gulzar, Daulatana owns valuable commercial land in Luddan, located in Punjab’s Vehari district. The petition stated that on June 19, 2026, he entered into an agreement to sell eight acres of land for Rs280 million.

The petitioner alleged that shortly after the agreement was signed, a dispute arose within the family over the property transaction. It was claimed that Daulatana’s four children declared him mentally ill and, on June 28, 2026, forcibly admitted him to a mental health rehabilitation centre against his will.

The petition further argued that the confinement was motivated by financial interests linked to his property rather than any genuine medical condition. It also informed the court that Daulatana had previously transferred ownership of approximately 80 acres of land to one of his sons and three daughters. Despite those earlier transfers, the petitioner maintained that he was still subjected to unlawful confinement because of the latest land deal.

Counsel for the petitioner requested the court to take notice of what was described as the illegal detention of a mentally sound individual in a rehabilitation facility. The petition urged the court to ensure his recovery from the centre and restore his personal liberty without delay.

After hearing the arguments and reviewing the matter, the Lahore High Court ordered that Nasir Khan Daulatana be recovered from the rehabilitation centre and released immediately.

The court’s decision brought an end to his stay at the facility, while highlighting the seriousness of allegations involving the alleged misuse of mental health institutions in the context of family property disputes. The proceedings focused on whether an individual could be deprived of personal freedom without lawful justification, particularly in cases where significant financial and inheritance interests are involved.

Further legal proceedings, if any, regarding the underlying property dispute may continue separately in accordance with the law.