Seminar on Reko Diq Case, insightful lecture delivered by Dr Ahmed Ghouri, Advocate of Supreme Court of Pakistan

17 November, 2022. QAU School of Law has organized a Seminar on Reko Diq case which is currently being heard by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Dr. Ahmad Ghouri, Senior Lecturer School of Law of University of Sussex UK, has delivered an insightful lecture on the background and current updates of Supreme Court’s proceedings. He has raised critical questions about the way in which this matter has so far been considered at national and international forums. Dr. Ghouri was of the opinion that policy makers in Pakistan could have done a better job while sigining Bilateral Investment Treaties which have eventually limited Pakistan’s choice of law and dispute resolution forums.

He has also highlighted that a reference has been filed by the Government of Pakistan to seek Supreme Court’s endorsement about the revised Reko Diq deal. In his submission to the Supreme Court about this case, Dr. Ghouri has pleaded that Pakistan should not surrender the option of judicial review. Ousting jurisdiction of the highest judicial forum of Pakistan by limiting the dispute resolution to investor-state arbitration mechanism may lead to unintended consequences.

The Seminar was attended by a large number of students, faculty members and legal practitioners. Prof. Dr. Aziz ur Rehman, Director QAU School of Law, appreciated the proactive role of Dr. Ghouri as an academician to highlight public interest aspects of Reko Diq case. He emphasized that academic institutions and faculty members should actively engage themselves in public policy debates through constructive feedback and participation.