KARACHI, April 3: The British-Pakistan Law Council (BPLC), a new body that aspires to bring the legal communities in Britain and Pakistan closer together, was launched here on Saturday.

President General Pervez Musharraf, prime minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali and his British counterpart Tony Blair in their messages announced support to the initiative.

The launching ceremony was held at the British Deputy High Commission, and was attended by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, City Nazim Niamatullah Khan, serving and retired judges of superior courts, senior lawyers and others.

The BPLC was formed in conjunction with the Law Society of England and Wales and interested Pakistani lawyers, and its website (www.

britpaklaw.com), which was also launched on the occasion, provides a platform to British and Pakistani lawyers, law students and judges to exchange information and ideas.

At the very outset, Mr Hamish St. Clair Bainel, the British Deputy High Commissioner, referred to relations between Pakistan and the UK which, he said, "have always been close, and are continuing to grow". The British-Pakistan Law Council was an example of this close cooperation, he added.

In this context, he referred to recent visits to Pakistan by the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw; Home Secretary David Blunkett; and Secretary of State for International Development, Hillary Ben. He also cited visits by Gen. Musharraf, prime minister Jamali and foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri.

The British Deputy High Commissioner said that on May 12 Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK has organized a conference on Pakistan trade and investment entitled the New Frontier. On May 19, the Commonwealth Business Council would launch the South Asia Trade and Investment Network with a focus on Pakistan.

The Deputy High Commissioner then read out the message of prime minister Tony Blair in which, he said: "I am delighted to give my support to the newly-formed British Pakistan Law Council, and, in particular, to the website, which is launched today. It is a further sign of cooperation at all levels between people and professions in our two countries".

Governor Sindh Dr Ishratul Ibad, while appreciating the initiative, read out messages from Gen Musharraf and prime minister Jamali.

President Musharraf in his message said: "The formation of the British-Pakistan Law Council is particularly important and will hopefully create an active link between the legal communities of both nations."

Prime Minister Jamali was of the view that "the council will foster closer relations and promote exchange of expertize and experience. The civil society in both countries needs to establish more such connections. UK is home to a large number of migrants from Pakistan. We also have significant trade and investment relations. The council will hopefully also help enhance Pakistan-UK relations in all fields."

The Law Society President, Peter Williamson, said: "The British-Pakistan Law Council will provide an important platform for lawyers and legal organisations in both countries to work together on matters of common interest, such as: anti-corruption, legal reform and human rights.

Speaking on the occasion, Attorney-General of Pakistan, Makhdoom Ali Khan, said the expanding scope of international law necessitates a greater interaction between lawyers of different countries. Lawyers must not only concern themselves with the legal machinery of their respective states, but also develop an awareness of the workings of other legal systems, he said, adding that international repercussions of municipal acts compelled such an understanding.

In this respect, lawyers of the UK and Pakistan were at an advantage as they already have a base to work from, said Mr Khan.

The genesis of the relations between the lawyers of the UK and Pakistan lie in colonial history and from the mid-19th century onwards many young persons who desired to make a career in law went for studies to England. The father of the nation, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the national poet Allama Iqbal, a few prime ministers and a number of distinguished judges and lawyers were barristers of the Inns of Court, he said.

The formation of the BPLC, he hoped, would facilitate the legal communities of the two countries to further promote bilateral relations and work together on international plane. He welcomed the BPLC initiative at a time when law was fast transforming itself from a local discipline into a force which cuts across countries, continents and communities.

Till very recently international law was regarded as the enclave of academic lawyers. It was considered of little importance save in the conduct and practice of states. It provided no right of action to individuals and corporations. The right of action of the states was also restricted.

Today, Mr Khan pointed out, the"international law not only permeates commercial law but is also influencing constitutional and criminal jurisprudence". The "act of the state" doctrine is on the wane. International courts are being established to deter mass atrocities and to hold those found responsible, accountable.

There is a growing realization that as compared to a small state an International Criminal Court may be more secure and thus, deal more effectively with the nationals of powerful countries, said Mr Makhdoom Ali Khan.

He said that tribunals established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the growth of telecommunications and the continued exploration of air and space are strengthening the traditional foundations of international law. Environmental awareness, the popular demand to protect human rights, globalisation, investment treaties, the internationalisation of dispute resolution and the ever-increasing number of multi-national tribunals have metamorphosed domestic issues into international concerns.

The BPLC's coordinating chair, Mahnaz Malik, said: "The British-Pakistan Law Council will provide a link between Pakistani and British lawyers and help strengthen historical relationship between the two legal communities. At present, interaction between Pakistani and British lawyers is largely restricted to those who can afford to travel abroad. The council's website will provide a free and innovative way to communicate and learn about each other, which will hopefully bring benefits to both nations,"

The Law Society of England and Wales plans to assist the BPLC to provide relevant information, advice and contacts to help British and Pakistani lawyers build closer professional relationships and gain greater understanding of the legal issues affecting their respective jurisdictions.

Mr Hugh McDermott, of the International Unit, The law Society of England & Wales, said the Law Society is the largest legal representative and regulatory body in the UK with some 113,000 members who hold the title of 'solicitor'. Ten per cent of the Law Society's membership is based with international legal practices throughout the world and almost eight per cent of membership is from an Asian background. Solicitors export over US$1.6 billion in legal services advice from the UK.

He said the British Pakistan Law Council and its website were the idea of its coordinating Chair, Mahnaz Malik, who is qualified to practice law in England and Wales, New York and Pakistan.

The council will be co-chaired by The Lord Woolf, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales and the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui. The Board of the British-Pakistan Law Council includes:

* Attorney-General for Pakistan, Mr Makhdoom Ali Khan,

* Mr David Lammy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Constitutional Affairs (Minister in the Department of Constitutional Affairs),

* President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Mr Peter Williamson,

* Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court, Mr Justice Chaudhry Ejaz Yousaf,

* British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Mr Mark Lyall Grant CMG and

* Pakistani High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Maleeha Lodhi.