RSIL Pakistan

2.27 million cases are pending in Pakistan’s courts. Workers’ cases are only 0.25% of them, but they’re the slowest-moving. Clearing the NIRC’s queue took under 5 months in 2020 and over 17 months in 2024. Swipe to see who pays for the delay. Read the full report at: rsilpak.org/wp-content/uploa…

On the publication of “The Story of Modern International Justice, 1993–2025”, Dr Mark Ellis, Executive Director of the International Bar Association, described international justice as “a story of law being tested, interpreted and developed” in response to humanity’s gravest crimes. That story began long before 1993. The principles of state sovereignty, territorial integrity and the non-use of force, firmly established in international law and the UN Charter, are the product of a long historical evolution. They stand as monuments of civilizational maturity and wisdom, reflecting humanity’s gradual transition from revelation to legislation, from illegality to legal norms, from coercion to consent, and from unilateralism to cooperation. From early treaty traditions to the Charter-based legal order, this continuity reflects a shared juridical conscience of humankind. #InternationalLaw #UNCharter #RuleOfLaw #IslamicLaw #QCRC

Strengthening Judicial Responses to Terrorism and Organised Crime ⚖️ RSIL was pleased to contribute to the Annual Symposium on Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime for Judges of Special Courts, held on 9 October 2026 at the Federal Judicial Academy, Islamabad. Organised by the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and supported by the Government of Canada, the symposium brought together judges of Special Courts to examine emerging challenges in counter-terrorism, transnational organised crime, judicial best practices, and international cooperation in criminal matters. As part of the proceedings, the RSIL team delivered presentations on counter-terrorism, drawing on our ongoing research to share insights on the evolving legal landscape and the practical challenges judges face in adjudicating these cases. #RSIL #CounterTerrorism #RuleOfLaw #FederalJudicialAcademy #InternationalLaw

RSIL's Founding President, Ahmer Bilal Soofi, recently visited Senate House, University of London, where he met Patricia McKellar, Dean of Undergraduate Laws, and presented her with a copy of his latest book, 'Ahd Allah: The Qur'an's Covenants and its Legal Architecture, published by the Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad. The book examines the covenantal framework of the Qur'an and the legal architecture that flows from it, a contribution to the ongoing dialogue between Islamic law and contemporary legal thought. We thank the University of London Undergraduate Laws team for their warm welcome and look forward to continued academic engagement.

What is the difference between Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and mediation? Are they the same thing, or does mediation form part of the broader ADR framework? In this episode of the Future of Law series, we speak with Advocate Attaullah Kundi about the distinction between ADR and mediation and explore how these mechanisms can provide alternatives to traditional litigation and court proceedings. Watch at: youtu.be/E2uAqqqFK20?si=Lodv…

The Research Society of International Law congratulates the Government of Pakistan and the UNDP on the launch of the National Action Plan for Human Rights 2026. RSIL’s Director of Research, @ovesanwar , served as the Technical Expert for the development and drafting of this Action Plan.

youtu.be/HeyFPTeAucY The US-Iran MoU is framed as a ceasefire mechanism, not a peace treaty. As it's tested, questions about its legal architecture become more pressing — including whether its $300 billion fund creates binding obligations, and why "reconstruction" was chosen over "reparations." This explainer breaks down the legal language behind the 2026 framework, from the "good faith" clause to a future Security Council endorsement. Visit dlpforum.org for more updates. #InternationalLaw #USIranMoU #DLPForum #Diplomacy #UNCharter #ICJ

The Strait of Hormuz and the Laws of the Sea 🔗 lnkd.in/dhwmamb6 A ceasefire clause that may contradict the very law it claims to uphold. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz threw energy markets into crisis, and the terms under which it reopened have exposed a deeper fault line between diplomacy and the law of the sea. This video breaks down what UNCLOS, the Corfu Channel case, and the US-Iran MoU actually mean for the future of maritime passage. Visit dlpforum.org for more updates. #DLPForum #DiplomacyLawAndPolicyForum #Diplomacy #Law #Policy #StraitOfHormuz #LawOfTheSea #UNCLOS #InternationalLaw #MaritimeLaw #TransitPassage #IranUS #Geopolitics #EnergySecurity #Diplomacy

Why did US Sanctions on Iran Fail? Watch at: youtu.be/Vck-Z2FysZ4?si=7azu…

On 8 June, the Research Society of International Law (RSIL) and the Legal Aid Society (LAS) launched Mediation Before Litigation: A Reform Package for Labour and Commercial Disputes in Islamabad at the Movenpick Hotel. Nine years after the ADR Act 2017 promised faster, cheaper justice through mediation, court backlogs persist and referral practices remain inconsistent. This report sets out a complete roadmap to change that — a diagnostic of the existing framework, a drafted legislative reform package amending the Industrial Relations Act 2012, the Payment of Wages Act 1936, the ADR Act 2017 and the CPC 1908, and an operational blueprint for putting the reforms into practice. We were grateful to be joined by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Supreme Court of Pakistan as Chief Guest, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, as Guest of Honour, and Justice (retd.) Arif Hussain Khilji, alongside senior voices from the Ministry of Law and Justice and the National Industrial Relations Commission, the legal profession, the business community, and civil society. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation. The work of reform begins here. #MediationBeforeLitigation #ADRReform #AccessToJustice #RSIL #LegalAidSociety

On 8 June, the Research Society of International Law (RSIL) and the Legal Aid Society (LAS) launched Mediation Before Litigation: A Reform Package for Labour and Commercial Disputes in Islamabad at the Movenpick Hotel. Nine years after the ADR Act 2017 promised faster, cheaper justice through mediation, court backlogs persist and referral practices remain inconsistent. This report sets out a complete roadmap to change that — a diagnostic of the existing framework, a drafted legislative reform package amending the Industrial Relations Act 2012, the Payment of Wages Act 1936, the ADR Act 2017 and the CPC 1908, and an operational blueprint for putting the reforms into practice. We were grateful to be joined by Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb of the Supreme Court of Pakistan as Chief Guest, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, as Guest of Honour, and Justice (retd.) Arif Hussain Khilji, alongside senior voices from the Ministry of Law and Justice and the National Industrial Relations Commission, the legal profession, the business community, and civil society. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation. The work of reform begins here. #MediationBeforeLitigation #ADRReform #AccessToJustice #RSIL #LegalAidSociety #Islamabad #Pakistan

RSIL convened a multi-stakeholder consultation in Karachi on the feasibility of introducing human rights due diligence regulations in Pakistan, bringing together representatives from government institutions, workers’ organisations, civil society, and the private sector. The consultation was held under the @EUPakistan-funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, in collaboration with the @mohrpakistan and @UNDP_Pakistan. The session focused on obtaining stakeholder feedback on our recommendations on voluntary human rights due diligence entry points, creating space for dialogue, exchange of perspectives, and discussions on key priorities and challenges related to the implementation of HRDD under the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in Pakistan.

RSIL conducted a two-day capacity development training workshop in Karachi under the @EUPakistan -funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, in collaboration with the @mohrpakistan and @UNDP_Pakistan. The sessions combined lectures and interactive group exercises to strengthen participants’ understanding of the fundamentals of business and human rights frameworks, as well as key skills such as coordination, law and policy analysis and monitoring the implementation of the NAP-BHR.

Everything you need to know about the Strait of Hormuz! Iran’s weapons, tactics and overall strategy to control and choke the Strait. In this, @ovesanwar , Research Director RSIL also discusses the lawfullness of the ‘Tehran Tollbooth’ and what it means for the rest of the world. youtu.be/0PgYpuPliiw?si=3x-Q…

RSIL conducted a two-day capacity development training workshop for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Steering Committee on the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights (NAP-BHR). The workshop was held under the @EUPakistan funded Huqooq-e-Pakistan II project, in collaboration with the @mohrpakistan and @UNDP_Pakistan. The sessions aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of business and human rights frameworks at both international and domestic levels, while equipping them with practical administrative tools to support the effective implementation of the NAP-BHR. The workshop also encouraged collaborative dialogue and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, reinforcing a coordinated and informed approach to advancing business and human rights in the province