Social Determinants of Real Estate Crimes Against Overseas Pakistanis

Abstract

The present study aims to explore the social factors which contribute towards Real Estate Crimes (RECs) against Overseas Pakistanis (OPs). This research would be the first of its kind and nature. It would study the social causes of RECs against Ops from the perspective of the victims. The present study is qualitative in nature and used the Multiple Case Study Design to study the topic under investigation. Thirty-six participants were selected through purposive sampling from the district of Lahore. Data was collected through in-depth interviews. The findings revealed that being away from the properties (absentee owners), lack of legal awareness and proper knowledge, blind trust, greed, unguarded properties, patriarchy, and being away from their tribe were the major reasons of real estate crimes against overseas Pakistanis. Overseas Pakistanis should not have blind trust on others and rather they must complete required documentation of their properties. They should be cautiously social enough to have check and balance on their property along with taking appropriate steps to safeguard them by keeping themselves abreast of latest development related to laws and neighborhood of the property. So that a culprit may not tend to consider committing RECs against their properties since the culprits of RECs are rational offender who do their cost-benefit analysis before committing such crimes.