The Ministry of Law and Justice, through the International Mediation and Arbitration Center (IMAC), organized a seminar titled "The Prophetic Art of Peacemaking: Negotiation, Mediation and Sulh in Islam for the Modern World" at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad. The event brought together members of the judiciary, legal fraternity, religious scholars, ADR practitioners, and academia to deliberate on the Islamic foundations of Sulh and their relevance to modern dispute resolution.
Addressing the seminar as Chief Guest, Barrister Aqeel Malik, Minister of State for Law and Justice, said that Islam is the most beautiful and practical religion and that Sulh is among its greatest teachings. He observed that many disputes can be resolved through dialogue and mediation instead of prolonged litigation, thereby reducing the burden on courts. He urged religious scholars to guide the younger generation and promote the culture of Sulh within society. He emphasized that strengthening Pakistan's mediation ecosystem requires a collective national effort involving the judiciary, legal profession, academia, religious scholars, civil society, businesses and the media.
The Minister informed participants that the Government is proposing reforms to strengthen the Alternative Dispute Resolution framework, including mandatory mediation for specified categories of disputes. Referring to recent regional developments, he appreciated the leadership of Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and other state institutions for their constructive role in supporting efforts to de-escalate tensions during the recent conflict involving the United States and Iran. He noted that dialogue and peaceful engagement remain the most effective means of resolving disputes at both the national and international levels. He also appreciated the media for supporting ADR initiatives and commended IMAC for promoting mediation across Pakistan.
Addressing the seminar as Hon'ble Mr. Justice Dr. Syed Muhammad Anwer, Acting Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court of Pakistan, highlighted Pakistan's constitutional framework, which ensures that laws remain consistent with the injunctions of the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. He observed that Islam provides enduring principles of justice, dialogue and reconciliation for preventing and resolving disputes. Stressing that concepts such as Sulh, Tahkeem and Hakam are deeply rooted in Islamic jurisprudence, His Lordship urged religious scholars and community leaders to promote reconciliation through mosques and local communities. He also appreciated IMAC's efforts in advancing mediation and peaceful dispute resolution.
Earlier, Federal Secretary for Law and Justice Raja Naeem Akbar welcomed the participants and observed that Islam places extraordinary emphasis on reconciliation. Referring to the Qur'anic injunction, "And reconciliation is best", he noted that the principles of modern mediation have always been embedded in Islamic teachings. The seminar featured technical sessions by Mr. Nasir Khan, Maulana Ibrahim Hussain, Dr. Syed Ata ur Rehman, and Professor Dr. Sami Ur Rahman, who discussed the Prophetic model of negotiation, faith-based mediation, public policy, and legal reforms for institutionalizing Sulh and mediation in Pakistan.
The seminar concluded with a vote of thanks by Ms. Aisha Rasool, Project Director, IMAC. She observed that the day's deliberations had reaffirmed that Sulh and mediation are deeply rooted in Islamic teachings and Pakistan's legal and cultural traditions. She expressed hope that the seminar would foster greater collaboration among stakeholders in promoting dialogue, reconciliation, and peaceful dispute resolution across Pakistan.
Participants highly appreciated the theme of the seminar and described it as timely and relevant. They expressed the hope that IMAC would continue organizing similar programmes to promote the culture of Sulh and strengthen Alternative Dispute Resolution in the country.
