Critical thinking, reasoning and argument for the sake of knowledge are the key attributes to excel in the legal education, said Justice Athar Minallah, Chief Justice Islamabad High Court.
Addressing a two-day international conference organized by Department of Law of International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) on “Legal Education in Pakistan” at Faisal Masjid Campus of the university, Justice Athar Minallah said that teachers of IIUI had introduced him and other to renowned law experts to the Muslim legacy in legal education, methodology of benefiting from the teachings of Mujtahideen and ways to utilize Islamic law of Fiqh. He also shed light on preservation of life while saying that Islamic Fiqh had greatly emphasized on it. He hailed IIUI and his Alumni for services in the legal education.
The conference was attended by national and international scholars hailing from China, Malaysia and Australia who presented around 40 research papers in the conference focused on challenges in the legal education, opportunities for progress, scope and other relevant topics.
Participants of the conference stressed upon Bar Councils, Higher Education Commission (HEC) and universities to prepare regulations for legal education through joint deliberations and discussion. They recommended that up gradation in the legal education and its curriculum be introduced according to the contemporary requirements and technology must be utilized in this regard. The conference participants also agreed that institutions linked to the legal education must be taken on board while making changes in the legal education system. In various sessions of the conference, participants discussed topics such as challenges in the legal education, scope of the legal education, methodologies of legal teaching, impact of globalization on legal education.
The concluding ceremony was also addressed by IIUI Rector who called upon educational institutions to bring law experts and researchers to a platform to explore challenges and solution with recommendations of improvements. “ Law department has recently established law clinics which is a positive step as this development will provide opportunities to graduates to learn practical skills” he said.
Dr. Tahir Hakeem, Dean Faculty of Shariah and Law (FSL) highlighted the importance of legal education in the light of Islamic teachings. He also thanked IIUI administration, HEC and Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue (IRD). Executive Director, Iqbal International Institute for Research and Dialogue (IRD) Dr. Husn ul Amin also spoketo the audience and shared his thoughts on collaboration of the conference.
Dr. Hafiz Aziz ur Rehman, Chairman Law department presented the recommendation of the conference, while he also apprised the participants regarding objectives of the conference saying that the conference is focused to address issues in the legal education and commence a debate for reconstruction in the e legal education. He added that the conference was aimed at creating synergies and linkages for promising experiments and experience sharing on the sidelines of the conference . He told that the participants will discuss innovation in the legal education area and look into curriculum, quality, research in higher education in law .
Almost every minor and major issue concerning the legal education in Pakistan was deliberated upon by the learned participants. The Penal Discussion chaired by Justice Qazi Khalid (V/C SZABUL) included Mr. Raza Chauhan (DG Acad HEC), Mr. Gulzar (nominee of V/P PBC), Mr. Anaitullah (Principal Law College, University of Peshawar), Mr. Sami Uzair (Former, Principal Law College University of Punjab), Dr. M. Munir (V/P IIU), Dr. Farkhanda Zia (VP IIU) and Dr. M Mushtaq (DG Shariah Academy). The discussion was moderated by Dr. Aziz ur Rehman (Chairman Department of Law, IIUI).