Federal Law and Justice Minister Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar said alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is the most effective way to tackle Pakistan’s backlog of pending cases, calling it an innovative, timely and amicable method that can reduce the burden on courts and strengthen public confidence in the justice system. Speaking to participants on the second day of a national ADR training program, he reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting ADR across the country.
Tarar invoked a verse of Allama Iqbal to underline the need for fresh thinking, explaining that new solutions and systems emerge from new ideas rather than brick-and-mortar institutions. He said ADR embodies that spirit of innovation by offering procedures that resolve disputes efficiently and with greater satisfaction for the parties involved.
The minister noted the training attracted a diverse mix of participants, including members of parliament, high court judges, federal secretaries, civil and military officers from various ministries and divisions, legal experts and business leaders. He said this diversity reflects a clear willingness across the spectrum of stakeholders to embrace reconciliation and other ADR techniques.
Tarar praised the event’s organization and leadership, commending project director Aisha Rasool, registrar Ehsanullah Khan and the EMIC team for arranging the training. He also thanked international experts Rahim Shamji, Sarah Tarar and Dr. Khalid Chaudhry for providing participants with what he described as world-class instruction.
Highlighting a broader institutional aim, he said EMIC is working to establish a comprehensive reconciliation system through this and other training programs held nationwide. He urged parliamentarians, judges and all participants in the justice system to actively promote reconciliation and other ADR methods to substantially and effectively reduce the courts’ heavy caseload.
