Inheritance law in Pakistan is governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 and the Succession Act, 1925. The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act applies to Muslims in Pakistan, while the Succession Act applies to non-Muslims in Pakistan.
Under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, inheritance is governed by the principles of Islamic law, also known as sharia. According to sharia, a person's estate is distributed among their heirs according to predetermined shares, called "fixed shares." These fixed shares are based on the relationships of the heirs to the deceased. For example, a husband is entitled to a larger share of his wife's estate than a brother is entitled to.
The Succession Act, on the other hand, follows the principle of "testamentary freedom," which means that a person has the right to dispose of their property as they see fit, either through a will or through a trust. If a person dies without a will or trust, their property is distributed according to the laws of intestacy, which are set out in the Succession Act.
In both the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act and the Succession Act, certain heirs have a right to a share of the deceased's estate, regardless of what is stated in a will or trust. These are called "forced heirs." In the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, forced heirs include a person's spouse, children, and parents. In the Succession Act, forced heirs include a person's spouse and children.
There are also provisions in both the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act and the Succession Act for the disinheritance of heirs. Under the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, a person can disinherit an heir if the heir has committed a crime or has caused harm to the deceased. Under the Succession Act, a person can disinherit an heir by specifically stating in their will or trust that the heir is to receive no portion of their estate.
In conclusion, inheritance law in Pakistan is governed by both the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act and the Succession Act. The former applies to Muslims and follows the principles of sharia, while the latter applies to non-Muslims and follows the principle of testamentary freedom. Both acts provide for the distribution of a person's estate among their heirs, with certain heirs having a right to a share of the estate regardless of what is stated in a will or trust. There are also provisions for the disinheritance of heirs in both acts.