The current situation in Pakistan is troublesome and most probably the worst in the 62 year´s history of the country. Domestic security is unfortunately deteriorating and the state is challenged by growing militancy and terrorism, which already caused hundreds of casualties. This grave scenario is intensified by an economic and food crisis and energy shortage. But in order to tackle and solve the complexity of problems the state of Pakistan has to ensure rule of law. And there is particular need of an independent judiciary which has unfortunately has suffered for decades in Pakistan but experienced a historical success in March 2009 by the restoration of the sacked Chief Justice Iftikar Chaudry.

Against this background Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Berlin on October 26, 2009 had invited Pakistani politicians including some legal expert to a Round Table Conferene in order to debate the future of rule of law in Pakistan and also to explore ways to end violence in the country. In this regard, around 50 experts not only from Pakistan but also from German think tanks, research institutes, Ministries and Parliament participated. They discussed structures and deficits of rule of law as well as the current state of affairs, parallel legal systems, the relationship between politics and judiciary and the role of political parties and society. The speakers from Pakistan were Imran Khan, Chairman of the Political Party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice), Ahsan Iqbal, Chief Coordinator and Information Secretary of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif) and Member of National Assembly, Athar Minallah, Lawyer at the Supreme Court of Pakistan and former spokesperson for the Chief Justice of Pakistan and Ms. Bushra Gohar, Senior Vice President of the Awami National Party and Member of National Assembly.

Please find the Programme of the Conference and a detailed Conference Report followed by a picture gallery highlighting glimpses of the Conference. The picture gallery also reflects a public debate “On Pakistan and the West” in the evening of October 26 where an audience of more than 300 visitors and media had the chance to discuss their perceptions with the esteemed guests from Pakistan.

More in-depth analysis on the judicial system and the two-years long struggle for an independent judiciary in Pakistan is done in the research paper A Ray of Hope: The case of the Lawyer´s Movement in Pakistan by Saima Jasam and Azmat Abbas.