Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to international humanitarian law and called for stronger legal measures to address conflicts and human rights violations during a two-day policy dialogue in Islamabad organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in partnership with the International Parliamentarians Congress.
The Global International Humanitarian Law Initiative policy dialogue brought together policymakers, parliamentarians and humanitarian actors to discuss ways to reinforce legal protections in situations of armed conflict. The event provided a forum for national and provincial representatives to exchange views on implementation and compliance with international humanitarian norms.
Speaking at the conference, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, advisor to the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on information, emphasized Pakistan’s adherence to international law and humanitarian principles. He identified terrorism, internal conflicts and ongoing human rights violations in Gaza, Syria and Indian-occupied Kashmir as major challenges that demand concerted legal and political responses.
Barrister Saif urged strengthening existing legal frameworks and called on political leaders to pursue dispute resolution through law and justice rather than resorting to violence. His remarks stressed the need for institutional reforms and political will to ensure accountability and protection for civilians in conflict-affected areas.
The dialogue drew wide political participation, including Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed and members of Pakistan’s national and provincial assemblies, underscoring broad parliamentary support for the initiative and for advancing discussions on international humanitarian law.
