Over the winter break, ELP Co-Director and Professor of Law David M. Forman ’93 spent ten days in Pakistan at the invitation of Prof. Dr. Ahmad Adnan, Vice Chancellor, Government College University (GCU) Lahore. The academic exchange included an international seminar on “Climate Change: The Rights of Future Generations” along with Professor Emilie Gaillard,* co-editor of their book Legal Actions for Future Generations (Peter Lang Publ. 2021).
* Professor Gaillard recently accepted a new position in New Caledonia (i.e., Kanacky) with a focus on Indigenous issues; we intend to explore ongoing collaborations with ELP, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence for Native Hawaiian Law, and our Pacific Asian Legal Studies program as desired.
Sabine Vermillard, Attachée for scientific & higher education cooperation, Islamabad, Pakistan; Professor Forman; and VC Adnan.
The collaboration with GCU Lahore evolved out of one of Professor Forman’s AY2022-2023 sabbatical activities as a faculty member at the Normandy Chair for Peace (NPC) Summer School, which took place September 2022 in Caen, France. Among the more than forty global representatives nominated and selected to participate at the event (including three ELP students and a former ELP intern), were four impressive GCU Lahore students and their Senior Public Information Officer, Musadaq Sultan. Members of the Pakistani delegation were selected from a pool of more than 300 applicants, under the supervision of Shakeel Kazmi, Adjunct Professor at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Pace University, where he teaches International Environmental Law (in addition to his New York City practice concentrating on immigration, real estate, bankruptcy, and other areas of law).
Among many other impressive contributions, the Pakistani delegation presented a moving and impactful video documentary about the devastating August 2022 flood, which added a sense of urgency to the proceedings in Normandy. After returning to France for an extended internship with NCP, Sultan also interned with ELP for a week in October 2023. See https://twitter.com/musadaqsultan/status/1742837300416118817
GCU Lahore faculty member, Muhammad Shahzad & Raeesa Riaz (NCP Summer School participants), Prof. Gaillard, Musadaq Sultan, Prof. Dr. Faiza Sharif (Director, Sustainability Study Center) & Attachée Vermillard.
Professor Forman’s December 14 seminar presentation “It Takes a Village: Converging Paths to the International Court of Justice” lauded the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change and the World’s Youth for Climate Justice for their fierce advocacy that led to the March 2023 adoption of a historic United Nations General Assembly resolution (by unanimous consent, for the first time) requesting the court to issue an Advisory Opinion concerning Climate Change. Drawing upon the efforts leading up to formal introduction of the proposed resolution in November 2022, the NCP Summer School’s penultimate exercise involved a Meta MUN (Model United Nations) debate on this very topic.
The day after the international seminar, Professor Kazmi joined Attachée Vermillard along with Professors Forman and Gaillard for a visit to the historic Lahore High Court, where they were welcomed into the chambers of two Justices. In addition to a number of environmental decisions and related activities, Justice Jawad Hassan summarized his speech (“Climate Justice: New Narrative of Hope, Resilience, and Security”) delivered earlier that month in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Justice Hassan in his chambers seeking Professor Forman’s assistance with identifying some of his international contacts.
The group also visited with Justice Anwaar Hussain, whose advocacy as an Assistant Advocate General prior to his judicial appointment included a case that resulted in an order upholding the Environment Protection Department’s cancellation of a chemical manufacturing company’s permit after an environmental protection tribunal overturned the agency’s action based on pollution caused by the company.
Oral arguments held in Justice Hassan and Hussain’s courtrooms included an internet privacy dispute with more than two dozen advocates crowded around the podium making their points in a mix of English, Urdu and Punjabi. After visiting the Judicial History Center, the “international observers” sat in on a high-profile, five-judge panel hearing that involved a former Minister’s challenge against a Pakistan Elections Commission ruling disqualifying him from the upcoming February 2024 national elections.
Professor Forman, Attachée Vermillard, Justice Anwaar Hussain, Justice Jawad Hassan, Prof. Gaillard & Prof. Kazmi.
The group also had a wide-ranging and stimulating discussion with Lahore High Court Bar Association President Choudhary Ishatiaq Ahmad Khan, Vice President Rabbiya Bajwa, as well as other officers and members of the Bar.
Attachée Vermillard & Professor Forman meeting with members and officers of the Lahore High Court Bar.
The international observers were also pleased to accept a lunch invitation at the Punjab Club by Living Legend Dr. Parvez Hassan, mere weeks after his receipt of that honorific at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute’s 26thSustainable Development Conference. Dr. Hassan shaped Pakistan’s first environmental legislation and has left an indelible mark on environmental conservation around the globe.
Profs. Forman, Gaillard and Kazmi with Dr. Parvez Hassan.
On a subsequent visit to Islamabad, Prof. Forman rejoined Justice Hassan and Prof. Kazmi, along with our Islamabad host, Barrister Dr. Waseem Qureshi (whose numerous publications include two articles in the University of Hawai‘i Law Review).
Professor Kazmi, Justice Hassan, Professor Forman, Musadaq Sultan, Dr. Qureshi enjoying tea at Loafology Café upon arrival in Islamabad.
Courtesy of Justice Hassan, we also had the pleasure of meeting with Islamabad High Court Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb—part of the Pakistan Judiciary’s delegation to the 28th Conference of the Parties, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Dr. Qureshi, Justice Aurangzeb, Professor Forman, Justice Hassan, and Professor Kazmi at Serena Café, Islamabad.
Before heading north to Murree, we stopped for dinner at the home of Dr. Habib Bukhari, Vice Chancellor, Kohsar University. As a result of the productive conversation, Professor Forman later had the opportunity to offer input on: (a) a grant application (“Accelerating Catalyzing Solutions for Climate Change’s Impact on Health, Agriculture, and Gender”), as well as (b) an interdisciplinary seminar that took place mid-January in Murree entitled “Paradigm Shift in Education Planning & Support Systems Integration for Reducing Climate Change Impact on Mountainous Communities & Beyond.” Future exchanges are likely.
Professor Kazmi, Mr. Sultan, Professor Forman, VC Bukhari and his wife.
The next morning, we attended hearings in the courtrooms of Justice Aurangzeb and Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq. We then had the privilege of joining Pakistan Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah in his chambers. Justice Shah fondly recalled some of his past experiences with (now retired) Professor Denise Antolini when she was Deputy Chair of the World Commission on Environmental Law (coordinating multiple events held by the Global Judicial Institute for the Environment) along with Hawai‘i Supreme Court Justice Michael Wilson. Justice Shah elaborated on his role leading the Pakistan Judiciary’s participation at COP28 in Dubai, then suggested ways that we could contribute to Pakistan’s path-breaking efforts.
Dr. Qureshi, Professor Kazmi, Justice Shah & Professor Forman, following their discussion in the Justice’s chambers.
Next, we visited with the Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Mr. Asif Hyder Shah, and two senior members of his staff. After commiserating with Mr. Shah about some of the practical challenges associated with Pakistan’s participation at COP28 and going forward, Professor Forman had the opportunity to note Professor Richard Wallsgrove’s supervision of three William S. Richardson School of Law students (Emily Sarasa, Debbie Akane, Wun-Syuan “Eleng” Guo) at COP28, as well as ELP’s past and future international environmental law advocacy and training efforts alongside our colleagues at the Haub/Pace Law School including Professor Kazmi.
We also met with Mr. Hayat Ali Shah, Director General of Pakistan’s Federal Judicial Academy, along with seven out of his nine staff members, to discuss their ongoing training of the country’s judges—including an environmental component in practically all subjects. The Director General invited Professors Kazmi and Forman to return and participate in these efforts.
Federal Judicial Academy staff, Professors Forman, Professor Kazmi, Secretary Shah & Dr. Qureshi.
After driving north to the mountainous region of Murree, Professor Forman and Mr. Sultan met with faculty and staff at the relatively new Kohsar University campus there—expressing regret at the missed opportunity to meet with students due to the day’s previous meetings in Islamabad but discussing the possibility of a return during the warmer days of summer and exploring opportunities for future collaboration.
The long, overnight drive back to Lahore translated in relatively little sleep prior to a December 19, 2023, appearance before a room packed full of faculty and students of the Sustainable Development Study Center (SDSC) at GCU Lahore. Professor Forman fielded probing questions about a variety of environmental, political, and social topics for ninety minutes, followed by another ninety minutes of more intimate conversation over high tea with a more select group of faculty and Ph.D. candidates.
The next day, Professor Forman delivered a presentation on “Climate Change: The Rights of Future Generations” hosted by the University of Central Punjab, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, on December 20, 2023, hosted by Vice Chancellor Dr. Khalid Manzoor Butt.
VC Butt, Professor Forman, faculty and students at the University of Central Punjab.
In addition to academic presentations and interaction with members of the judicial and executive branches in Pakistan, Professor Forman also experienced some of the country’s rich culture. He joined the Sultan family on two separate evenings at Nikkah and Mehndi ceremonies (two of four traditional Pakistani wedding events)—including Qawwali musical performances by a GCU Lahore graduate.
Former NCP Summer School student Raeesa Riza and her boyfriend Muzzamil also joined Professor Forman on guided tours of the Walled City of Lahore, Lahore Fort, and other parts of the city. The hospitality was wonderful and the food incredible. During one last meal before heading to the airport, we were joined by Tehzeeb Syed, World Wildlife Foundation Pakistan headquarters (and fellow member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s CEESP—Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy). Tehzeeb’s ancestors are Indigenous Balti from the northern mountain border areas with centuries of wisdom to draw upon to inform their ongoing conservation efforts. A future visit to learn more about a variety of projects in that region could be extremely inspiring!
Tehzeeb, Muzzamil and Prof. Forman enjoying some pre-departure Kulfi and Gulab Jamun at Salt ‘n Pepper.
DF/MTW