A power of attorney (POA, also called a Mukhtar Nama) lets one person act for another, often to sell or manage property. Fake and cancelled POAs are used in property fraud, so it pays to check one before you trust it. Here is the honest answer to the question: in Pakistan, there is no single free national website where you can type in a POA and see if it is registered. The checking is done mainly at the Sub-Registrar’s office, with a few extra checks to back it up.
Why Registration Matters
For a POA about property, registration with the Sub-Registrar is strongly recommended, and some legal guides say it is required. Registered POAs are entered in official records, so there is a record to check later. An unregistered POA is much harder to confirm. Rules can differ by province and by the type of POA, so check with a lawyer for your case.
Step 1: Get the Registration Details
Ask the person showing you the POA for its registration number, volume or book number, date, and the Sub-Registrar office where it was registered. If they cannot or will not give these details, treat that as a warning sign. Also ask for a certified copy, not just a photocopy.
Step 2: Check at the Sub-Registrar’s Office
Go to the Sub-Registrar office in the area where the POA was registered, and ask staff to check the details against their registers (the record room, often called the Muhafiz Khana). Confirm that:
- The registration number, date, and names match exactly
- The principal (the person giving the power) and the attorney are the same people named on your copy
- There is no cancellation deed, also called a revocation or Ibtal, recorded against it
Registration includes checking fingerprints against NADRA records, so ask whether the office has a record of this too.
Step 3: Check That the POA Is Still Active
A POA stops working if the principal dies or cancels it. Law guides list these as common frauds: using a POA after the principal has died, or after it was revoked. To lower the risk:
- Verify the principal’s identity with their CNIC
- Try to speak to the principal directly, or ask them to confirm
- Look for any revocation notice in newspapers, and a revocation entry in the Sub-Registrar’s records
Step 4: Read What the POA Allows
A POA only covers what it says. Check that it names the exact property, with the address and survey or khewat number, and that it clearly gives the attorney the power to do what is being done, such as selling. A vague POA that does not match the deal is a risk.
Step 5: Check the Land Record
Look at who the land record shows as the owner. In Punjab, use the Punjab Zameen app or punjab-zameen.gov.pk. In Sindh, use LARMIS at sindhzameen.gos.pk. These show land ownership and mutations, but they do not show whether a POA is registered. An online record is also not proof for a legal deal. Get a certified, stamped copy of the record (fard) from an Arazi Record Centre or the Sub-Registrar.
If the POA Was Made From Abroad
Overseas Pakistanis can make a POA in two ways: through a Pakistani embassy or consulate, or online through the NADRA and Ministry of Foreign Affairs portal at poa.nadra.gov.pk. The online route uses biometrics and a video interview with a consular officer. After that, the attorney in Pakistan goes through verification steps with their original CNIC, and the POA must be registered with the Sub-Registrar if it covers property.
One law firm guide says digital POAs carry a tracking ID and that MOFA stamps may have a QR code or serial number that can be checked. I could not confirm this on an official NADRA or MOFA page, so call or visit them to confirm before relying on it.
Where to Check What
| What You Want to Check | Where to Check |
|---|---|
| Is the POA registered? | Sub-Registrar office where it was registered |
| Has it been cancelled? | Sub-Registrar’s records, plus newspaper notices |
| Who owns the property? | Punjab Zameen (Punjab) or LARMIS (Sindh), then a certified fard |
| Was it made abroad? | The consulate or poa.nadra.gov.pk, and MOFA verification in Pakistan |
| Is the lawyer real? (for a vakalat nama) | The Punjab or Sindh Bar Council website |
Warning Signs
- The seller shows only a photocopy and will not give registration details
- The principal cannot be reached, or the attorney says the owner is “abroad and busy”
- The POA is very old, or the details do not match the CNICs or the property
- You are pressed to pay quickly, or to pay in cash
- Someone offers to “check the POA online” for a fee. I could not find an official public tool for this, so be careful
Please Note
This is general information, not legal advice. Most of the detailed checking steps here come from law-firm guides, not official government pages. If you are buying property or paying a large amount, ask a lawyer to check the POA and the Sub-Registrar’s records for you.
Final Thoughts
Checking a POA takes a bit of effort, but it is the best protection against property fraud. Get the registration details, check them in person at the Sub-Registrar’s office, confirm the owner is alive and has not cancelled it, and check the land record. Never rely on a photocopy alone.
