Daily Times

KARACHI: Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali said on Friday that the country’s legal system was characterised by pluralism that was an amalgamation of English common law and Islamic law and it has been marred by several dictatorial regimes.

The chief justice suggested that Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan Bar Council, universities, law schools and training organisations should develop fast-track means to bridge the chronic capacity gaps that were adversely affecting the quality of rule of law and dispensation of justice in the country. He was addressing the inaugural session of the International Conference on Legal Education, which was organised by Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto University of Law (SZABUL).

“We need to invest in learning and innovation in academic and professional legal education linked to career progression,” Justice Jamali said while noting that one way may be collaborations and mentoring arrangements with each other and international organisations to build local capacity. In view of technical capacity and needs, he recommended that the HEC should consider developing modular law programmes, enabling local law universities and schools to develop special isms and allow students to study in different universities within Pakistan in line with their preferences.

The chief justice said this would mean that universities and law schools recognise each other’s “modules” and allow their students to study a particular subject in a university or a law school that has developed a certain speciality. He said that at the same time “we can consider developing exchange programmes for students, teachers and professionals with overseas universities and law schools on the pattern of the European Union’s Eramus Programme”.