Mian Sheraz Javaid Highlights the Significance of ADR in Pakistan’s Legal System at Kinnaird College for Women
Lahore, Pakistan – Mian Sheraz Javaid delivered an insightful lecture titled “Incorporating ADR into Pakistan's Legal Framework” at Kinnaird College for Women (KCW), Lahore. This event, which was well-received by both students and faculty members, focused on the role ADR could play in transforming Pakistan’s legal landscape, a topic that has gained increasing attention amid growing concerns over the backlog of cases in the country’s judicial system.
During the session, Sheraz stressed the urgency of implementing these practices from the ground level. In his opinion, since Pakistan has a crushing caseload in its courts, the need to adopt ADR strategies has never been more critical. By introducing ADR in the legal system, legal experts can settle disputes effectively and amicably, away from the courts. Sheraz is of the opinion that ADR can ease the burden on the judiciary and provide a more accessible legal landscape for common people. The seminar also provided a unique opportunity for students to interact with noted personalities in the legal fraternity.
Some of the notables in attendance were Honorable Justice Mr. Justice Jawad Hassan from Lahore High Court, Honorable Justice Dato' Faizah binti Jamaludin of Malaysia's Court of Appeal, and MIMC Chairman Dato' Abdul Fareed B. Abdul Gafoor. They all lent their high-level stature and an international presence to the forum, as it highlighted ADR practices from the international scene.
Justice Jawad Hassan also provided his vision on how ADR was to be further utilized within the Pakistan judicial system. He commended the role being played by organizations such as the Ciarb Pakistan Branch, which strives for creating awareness on the practices of ADR, and stressed training up-and-coming legal professionals to adopt this avant-garde method.
Justice Faizah binti Jamaludin provided worthwhile insights from the legal environment in Malaysia, where ADR is now a part and parcel of conflict resolution. In Malaysia, there has been an increasing usage of mediation and arbitration in both commercial and civil conflicts, turning Malaysia into the leader in South East Asia as far as the use of ADR is concerned. Justice Jamaludin's speech highlighted the importance of collaboration across borders for better ADR practice and the need for Pakistan to learn from the Malaysian experiences.
Dato' Abdul Fareed B. Abdul Gafoor, a leading figure in the evolution of Malaysia's ADR system, emphasized the importance of mediation in dispute resolution effectively. He highlighted that ADR not only saves time and financial resources for litigants, but also helps to preserve harmony in society through friendly settlements. His observations prompted an active debate on how Pakistan could learn from such ADR-based methods of conflict resolution.
As part of the exciting programme of the seminar, an essay competition was also arranged in association with the Ciarb Pakistan Branch and NHLD – Kinnaird Law School. The competition aimed at motivating the students to think analytically on how ADR can be a valuable addition to the legal system in Pakistan. On the day of the event, the competition winners were awarded certificates acknowledging their outstanding work to mark the end of the seminar.
Speaking about the importance of such events, Mian Sheraz Javaid remarked, “It is truly inspiring to see the enthusiasm and commitment of the next generation of lawyers to finding innovative solutions for the challenges facing our legal system. The future of Pakistan’s legal framework depends on our ability to embrace change, and that change must come through education, awareness, and practice.”
He went on to appreciate the chance to interact with students and staff members at KCW, stating that such activities play a vital role in building an environment where all parties come together to share knowledge and ideas. "This is not about giving a lecture," Sheraz asserted. It's about making space where future lawyers can visualize the possibilities of ADR in practice and learn how it can revolutionize not only how they work but the justice system itself.
The session also emphasized establishing connections among law schools, legal professionals, and international organizations working on ADR. Through collaborations such as these, Sheraz is looking forward to introducing new approaches and practices into Pakistan's legal community, equipping the nation's legal professionals to efficiently deal with disputes of any nature.
Finally, the seminar was not merely a celebration of ADR in the legal framework of Pakistan, but also a clarion call for the legal fraternity to welcome and encourage other modes of settling disputes. The future of Pakistan's judicial system may ride on the way that the country adopts ADR processes, and with efforts like that at Kinnaird College for Women, there is potential for the justice system to be transformed so that it can become more streamlined, fairer, and open to everyone.
Sheraz also shared his hope for ongoing coordination with institutions such as Ciarb and NHLD to pursue these discussions and increase awareness of ADR practices. With institutions such as Kinnaird College and active participation from significant stakeholders in the legal community, Pakistan's legal environment may indeed be on its way to reform.
As this occurrence showed, the incorporation of ADR into Pakistan's legal system is not a theoretical exercise but a required movement toward a more contemporary and responsive judicial system.
