ISLAMABAD, Sept 20: Pakistan has nominated Professor Asif H. Qureshi to fill one of four upcoming vacancies on the World Trade Organisation’s Appellate body.

The Appellate body is the highest legal forum, which hears appeals on questions of law arising out of dispute panel decisions. It comprises seven members drawn from the WTO membership of 151 countries.

The selection process is highly competitive and attracts lot of candidates from around the world.

According to an official announcement issued on Thursday a selection committee has been established comprising six members — the director general, the chair of the general council, chairs of the 2007 councils for goods, services and Trips and the chair of the DSB.

However, the actual decision shall be taken by consensus of the entire membership. The selection process is likely to be completed by mid-November 2007.

Professor Qureshi is a leading expert on WTO law and a professor of International Economic Law at the University of Manchester and editor-in-chief of the Manchester Journal of International Economic Law. He authored many books on WTO related issues and printed articles in leading newspapers.