ISLAMABAD: Justice Syed Mansoor Ali of the Supreme Court on Tuesday said institutions can grow only through negotiation and communication. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is the smart solution to rising litigation and pendency.

“District and sessions judges must promote a culture of negotiation, communication, sharing and caring and that will help to deliver the best,” he said at a certificate award ceremony at the conclusion of a two-day workshop on “Negotiation mastery: theory, jurisprudence and practice” jointly organised by Department of Law, Fatima Jinnah Women University and the Federal Judicial Academy.

About ADR, the judge said, “ADR is absolutely essential. I have said this many times. I don’t think we can get rid of or deal with 2.4 million cases in Pakistan where they are right now. Ours is a litigant society that we come from and the pendency is rising and the number of judges we have it is only 4000. I don’t think litigation is an answer to it. Pendency is rising with the admission. There has to be some alterative solution to this entire litigation landscape we have and the only option is ADR, it is not rocket science. It is happening all around the world. We have ADR facilities. I think the best solution to litigation is the ADR. We must have to move to the ADR.”

According to a statement, the judge termed ADR the smart solution to rising litigation and pendency.

Speaking on the occasion, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani said, “Negotiation is very essential and important but a judge should not cross that redline so no one could call that judge as a biased judge.”

Renowned professor of ADR and licensed mediator Dr Jo Dela Garza-Chitlik, US Department of State, appreciated the keen interest of the participants to take, learn and master the concepts of negotiation and apply the concepts.

“I hope you will take this opportunity and you will be a part of the ADR Movement of Pakistan. You are truly living in a moment of special. History is being made. We are so fortunate to be guided in this journey by Justice Shah, a man of vision and a forward-thinking man, who will take Pakistan into a new era of conflict resolution”, she maintained.

Hayat Ali Shah, Director General Federal Judicial Academy, paid tribute to stakeholders with a special mention of Justice Jawad Hassan, Judge of Lahore High Court, in holding workshop.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2024