Interview of Ahmer Bilal Soofi, International Law Expert I RSIL l The Legal Diaries

Mr. Soofi is an Advocate Supreme Court of Pakistan and Senior partner of a leading law firm of Pakistan which has dealth with commercial matters, civil  and constitutional cases.As Federal Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs during caretaker setup in 2013, he supervised the historic transition of civilian rule to the elected government. He is also the founding President of Research Society of International Law that contributed to development of international law in Pakistan. Mr. Soofi was  a Member of Panel of Eminent Persons of OIC.  He also remained  Chairman of the UN Advisory Committee in Geneva contributing to several detailed UN Reports. Mr. Soofi has represented and advised  Pakistan before international courts including ICC & ICSID, US district court, UK commercial court. He also represented as Pakistan’s co-agent before International Court of Justice (ICJ) in Republic of Marshall Island’s (RMI) case and achieved the only victory for Pakistan in ICJ.  Mr. Soofi has advised the Government on international treaties, bilateral issues between India and Pakistan, UN Resolutions etc.

Mr. Soofi is invited frequently to lecture on various aspects of international law issues relating to Pakistan at the National Defense College Islamabad, Command and Staff College Quetta, National Management College Lahore, Naval War College Lahore and several other institutes. He remained a visiting Professor of International Law at the Punjab University for over 10 years.

Mr. Soofi is the author of over 100+ articles and comments printed in leading newspapers and journals of Pakistan. He is frequently invited by electronic and print media for expert comments on international law issues.

Mr. Soofi has also delivered talks and lectures at venues like International Development Law Organization Rome, Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Sri Lanka, Shanghai University China, Fletcher School USA, Royal United Services Institute, London and Harvard Law School, USA.

He graduated from Government College Lahore with Roll of Honor in debates and later did his LLB from Punjab University Law College and his LLM from University of Cambridge, UK.

Key Highlights
Representing Government of Balochistan in the $220 million Reko Deq arbitration before ICSID and ICC (TCC v Government of Pakistan).
Appointed as co-agent to represent Pakistan in the RMI case before the International Court of Justice.
Argued and won the landmark Pakistan Steel Mills case in relation to its privatization before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
 Successfully represented the Government of Balochistan (BOP) in a mattering relating to the exploration and production of gold and copper from Reko Diq mines, Chagai Hills, Balochistan.
 Successfully represented All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) in challenging various surcharges and duties in relation to electricity and gas for before the Lahore High Court and Islamabad High Court.
 Successfully represented the Federal Government before the Lahore High Court against a challenge to the construction of Fortress Square Mall inside Fortress Stadium, Lahore.
 Appointed by President of Sri Lanka as a member to the panel of advisers to the Commission on Missing Persons & War Crimes set up by the Sri Lankan Government.
 Frequently advise directors of the Crescent Group on a broad range of corporate, regulatory and commercial matters.

Education
– LLM, University of Cambridge(1988)

– LL.B, University of Punjab