The Law Admission Test (LAT) in Pakistan
Are you planning to pursue an undergraduate degree in law in Pakistan? The Law Admission Test (LAT) is the first step towards becoming a lawyer in Pakistan.
Get all the information you need to ace the test and secure your admission at a law university with this guide.
AI: The End of the Legal Profession?
The ability of AI to evolve, and provide uncanny human-like responses, is now seeping into professional arenas.
Being a lawyer himself, Huzaifah Sehgal ponders upon the effect of AI on the legal profession.
He combines the ethical concerns surrounding AI with two foundational legal theories—legal positivism and natural law—to investigate if the displacement of human lawyers is a possibility.
Suo Motu Legislation & Lawyers’ Movement 2.0
The Chief Justice of Pakistan’s suo motu powers have now been reduced by the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023.
This all began last month when the Chief Justice decided to take suo motu notice of the delay in elections in Punjab.
To counter this, the Sharif-led administration undertook judicial reforms to limit the Chief Justice of Pakistan’s unilateral power to exercise suo motu authority. They have now granted that power to a three-member committee comprising the CJP and two senior-most judges.
Crisis and Communication: The Case of the Desert Locust Episode in Pakistan
The Desert Locust episode in Pakistan (2018-21), when swarms of desert locusts migrated to the Indo-Pakistan border from the Arabian Peninsula in 2019, was a crisis that called into question the performance of our policy-makers and institutions.
This locust crisis was an actual eye-opener for the nation w.r.t. the dilapidated systems of governance and performance.
In addition to this, the crisis also showed the importance of communication and efficient dissemination of information during crisis management.
The Law of Self-Defence in Pakistan
In Pakistan, self-defence is referred to as private defence. The right of private defence is elaborated in the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) from sections 96 to 106.
With caselaws, Samar Shazad illustrates the conditions, the rule of proportionality, and the limitations of the right of private defence.
While the burden of proof for criminal cases rests on the prosecution, in the case of self-defence, the onus is on the accused who must justify that the circumstances warranted such.
Political Parties of Pakistan: Vengeance or Retribution
The perception that Pakistan is the world’s most dangerous country is exaggerated, to say the least. However, the idea that it is the most difficult country to govern has steadily gained credence over time.
Among the many problems that the country is confronted with, is the legacy of vicitimisation and vengeance between political opponents, which constantly results in political turbulence.
‘Politics – thy name is vengeance’ has hence become the norm in the country’s political system.
A Guide to Choosing CSS Optional Subjects
Choosing the right subjects for CSS is crucial for obtaining high marks and pursuing a successful career as a civil servant.
The exam consists of 12 subjects, including six compulsory subjects, and 600 marks are allocated to optional subjects. It is therefore essential for students to choose their subjects wisely to avoid unnecessary difficulties during their preparation.
This guide shares tips on selecting subjects and, more importantly, the common mistakes that aspirants make while choosing their optional subjects.
Faith in Imran Khan
The nation’s in a frenzy, but the political elite could care less about the economic woes of the public.
In the absence of good governance by the current political leadership, Imran Khan and his party are continually raising the hopes of a better tomorrow.
Will Huawei Be Able to Hold Out Against the US’s Sanctions?
The US has persisted in exerting pressure on allies, especially in Europe, to exclude Huawei from their 5G wireless networks.
There are also concerns over Huawei’s ties to the Chinese government and that its products might be used to sneak on other nations.
Fatima Haider notes that many nations would not be able to resist Huawei’s cost-friendly 5G installations for long.
Pakistan is benefitting itself from the ICT academies and tech infrastructure that Huawei has to offer.
Paradigm Shift’s Writing Contest Is Now Live
Paradigm Shift and Air University have partnered to host a writing contest, The Writer’s Paradigm, for the Pakistani youth.
The first prize for the writing contest is a whopping 50,000 rupees!
Submissions will be accepted from the 7th till the 23rd of April 2023. For information on the five themes, guidelines, and cash prizes, please head over to www.ParadigmShift.com.pk
Universalizing Nuclear Nonproliferation Norms: A Regional Framework for the South Asian Nuclear Weapon States
In “Universalizing Nuclear Nonproliferation Norms: A Regional Framework for the South Asian Nuclear Weapon States”, Dr. Adil Sultan carefully considers the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (or simply, the NPT).
He examines the nuclear dynamics of South Asia in light of Pakistan and India’s approach toward disarmament and nonproliferation.
Neutrality in Politics is a Sin
Citing different historical examples like the French Revolution and the creation of the US, Bilal Ahmed argues why taking an interest in politics is necessary for the people of a state, especially its youth.
He claims that general neglect shown by the citizens can lead to bad governance and the deterioration of democracy, as is the case in Pakistan.
A Conversation with SP Amna Baig
In our conversation with SP Amna Baig, who created the Gender Protection Unit in Islamabad, we explore her difficult CSS journey, her choices as a woman in Pakistan, and her desire to set an example of strength for the women in the country.
Pakistan–India Adversarial Relations: Instability for South Asia
Even with both Pakistan and India being nuclear weapon states, strategic stability in South Asia is under constant stress.
Brig. Syed Mushtaq Ahmed (R) discusses how the US is continually supporting India, to control China’s influence in the region. This means the Indians are ramping up their military capacities – and Pakistan then has to reciprocate.
He goes on to explore regional and global dynamics, and then offers viable policies for Pakistan and India, to work towards the much-needed regional economic cooperation.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Who is Dr. Aafia Siddiqui? This article explores the life and troubles of the Pakistani scientist who has been at the center of a global controversy.
By all accounts, Dr. Siddiqui’s story is known to be of grave injustice and tragedy.
The Challenges of Conducting Pakistan’s 2023 Digital Census
In this piece, Muhammad Azam Khan speaks from his experience as an enumerator for the first-ever digital population and housing census in Pakistan.
He observes that the use of geo-tagging and real-time data collection intends to address past issues of exclusion and inaccurate counts.
However, to him, challenges have arisen, particularly in Karachi, such as technical malfunctions, lack of security, delayed allowances, and low public awareness.
These hurdles need to be addressed for a successful and accurate census process.
Exploring the Legal Framework of Public Interest Litigation in Pakistan
Public interest litigation is a type of litigation where courts provide civil relief. This is usually for acts infringing on public interests and fundamental rights, that are provided in Articles 8-28 of the constitution.
Mehwish Batool explores the constitutional foundation and significance of these judicial powers in Pakistan, invoked under Article 184(3) and Article 199 of the constitution.
The Supreme Court has even used its judicial powers to protect endangered species and preserve wildlife through these articles. An example of this is the Province of Sindh vs. Laal Khan chandio case (2016 SCMR 48).
