August 12, 2021: CODE PAKISTAN in collaboration with the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP), and the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) organized a two-day regional training on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) at the Center for Learning Law and Business (CLLB) in Peshawar. The two-day training was attended by over 40 lawyers from the Peshawar Bar Association. It was part of a series of trainings being conducted on ADR for lawyers throughout the country and the second of its kind to be held for the lawyers of Peshawar Bar Association in response to an overwhelming interest from the lawyers of the region who were unable to attend the first ADR training that was held in Peshawar. The objective of the training was to raise awareness and build the capacity of the lawyers of Peshawar Bar Association and other stakeholders of the law and justice sector to provide support to citizens in the quick and efficient resolution of disputes by using effective methods of ADR.
A distinguished panel of local trainers were engaged to conduct the trainings through the use of available literature, local and international case studies, and personal examples arising from professional experiences. The programme also offered a look into the evolution, scope and methods of ADR in Pakistan with attention to the existing national ADR legislation, its implementation, and the role of justice sector stakeholders. Other areas of focus included past experiences with ADR, the potential benefits and limitations of ADR in the criminal justice system, and the way forward in light of lessons learned so far and international best practices. In addition, the training included interactive sessions and group discussions with the participants on the subject of ADR.
The panel of trainers included the Inspector General National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP), Dr. Syed Kaleem Imam, Barrister Mian Sarwar Muzaffar Shah, Barrister Syed Haider Ali Shah, Senior Prosecution Officer Mr. Zafar Abbas Mirza, and Barrister Ibrahim Khan Afridi.
The training session concluded with a few words of appreciation from the Vice President Peshawar Bar Association, Dr. Iftikhar Hussain and the President of CODE PAKISTAN, Mr. Dilawar Khan both of whom thanked the attending lawyers for their participation in the 2 day training on Mainstreaming ADR for Equitable Access to Justice in Pakistan.