PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF LAW, ANALYSIS AND WISDOM
Pakistan Journal of Law, Analysis and Wisdom (PJLAW) is a HEC Recognized multidisciplinary journal that provides a platform for researchers, scholars, and practitioners to publish high-quality research in the areas of law, social sciences, humanities, and Islamic banking and finance.
Human Trafficking as Human Security Failure: Bridging Criminal Law, Development Policy, and Regional Cooperation in South Asia
Human trafficking remained one of the most critical transnational crimes and a significant threat to human security, particularly in developing regions where socio-economic vulnerabilities and institutional weaknesses persisted. This study examined human trafficking in South Asia by integrating perspectives from criminal law, development policy, and regional cooperation. The research adopted a qualitative analytical design based on secondary data obtained from scholarly literature, policy reports, and institutional documents. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to evaluate the relative importance of key policy dimensions associated with anti-trafficking efforts. The findings indicated that development and poverty reduction policies demonstrated the highest effectiveness (M = 4.15, SD = 0.65), highlighting the importance of socio-economic interventions in addressing the root causes of trafficking. Victim protection and rehabilitation mechanisms also showed strong significance (M = 4.11, SD = 0.67), while criminal law enforcement capacity recorded a moderate but important impact (M = 4.03, SD = 0.72). However, regional cooperation mechanisms showed comparatively lower effectiveness (M = 3.94, SD = 0.75), indicating the need for stronger cross-border coordination among South Asian countries. The results suggested that trafficking could not be effectively addressed through criminal justice responses alone but required an integrated human security approach that combined legal enforcement with development initiatives and regional collaboration. Strengthening governance systems, promoting socio-economic development, and enhancing regional partnerships were therefore essential for combating trafficking networks and protecting vulnerable populations in South Asia.
Development Policy, Human Security, Human Trafficking, Regional Cooperation, South Asia, Transnational Crime.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr Syed Shameel Ahmed Quadri, Mehreen Ali, Dr. Muhammad Zakir, Saadia Bakhtawar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Exploring the Intersection of Human and Artificial Intelligence: Cognitive, Social, and Political Implications
This study delves into the profound effects of artificial intelligence (AI) on human communication, explicitly emphasizing its historical, social, and political implications. The argument presented highlights the limitations of AI in replicating human intelligence and emotion, emphasizing its inherent lack of emotion and abstract comprehension. This study emphasizes the significance of empathy and interpersonal relationships in AI and human intelligence's political and social aspects. The article thoroughly explores the differences between human intelligence and AI, comprehensively analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. The research seeks to gain insights into the ethical, cultural, and policy challenges that arise when integrating AI into society. The study comprehensively examines four crucial inquiries about cognitive and developmental facets, biological and cultural influences, social and political implications, and the obligations of AI and human intelligence. This research utilizes a systematic approach, analyzing academic papers, theories, and empirical data to thoroughly comprehend the distinctions and resemblances between artificial intelligence and human intelligence in contemporary society. It examines the implications of integrating AI from the standpoint of human intellect for ethics, culture, and policy.
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human Intelligence (HI), Intersection, Social, Political, Cognitive
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Ifra Iftikhar, Prof. Dr. Sajjad Ahmad Paracha https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Age of Digital Warfare: A Legal Analysis of International Law and National Security Policy of Pakistan
In this modern age, where the concept of jurisdiction and sovereignty has entered a fourth dimension, the implementation of international law, which is a soft law, in the context of cyberspace opens a plethora of questions to explain regarding its adoption and application. This includes adopting the concept regarding interference in critical infrastructure as a violation of the principle of non-intervention. Where the National Cyber Security policy claims intervention as an act of aggression raises questions about its generality. In this new world, states need to step up and bring forward policies to counter this latest threat. It includes being part of a multinational treaty known as the Budapest Convention. Pakistan is taking steps with the introduction of policies and national laws like PECA to encounter cybercrimes, but this doesn’t enable it to acquire international support from states, and it will require more to join hands with the international fraternity. There is ambiguity on different matters, which can be answered with debate and discussions among lawmakers and experts. At a time when countries like Pakistan are in a position to develop their cybersecurity system, the role of international organizations is important to help them enhance their structure so that they can provide clarity on terms such as cyber-attack, dispute settlement, and attribution, and the question of how they will address matters of jurisdiction to protect the idea of sovereignty.
Cyberattacks, International law, Budapest Convention, Law of Armed Conflict, Principle of Non-Intervention
Copyright (c) 2026 Saad Bin Kamal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
An Assessment of the Laws of War in Connection to the Contemporary Israel-Hamas War
The essay asserts that the sheer scale of civilian casualties and the systematic nature of the violations, compounded by the rhetoric of high-ranking Israeli officials that blurred the distinction between civilians and Hamas combatants, strongly suggest a failure to fully respect IHL. Ultimately, the discussion concludes that, based on the documented evidence, Israel is involved in a complete and grave violation of International Law and the Laws of War, repeatedly causing the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. The final argument is a compelling call to the international community to take immediate action to halt Israel’s military campaign. This essay examines the Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC)/International Humanitarian Law (IHL), rooted in customary law, the Hague Conventions, and the 1949 Geneva Conventions, and analyzes their application in the Israel-Hamas conflict. LOAC's core aim is to limit wartime cruelty and protect non-combatants, particularly civilians (Fourth Geneva Convention). Key IHL principles applicable to all belligerents include: Distinction (targeting only military objectives), Proportionality (prohibiting attacks where civilian harm outweighs military advantage), and taking Precautionary Measures to minimize civilian harm. Serious LOAC violations, like deliberate attacks on civilians, constitute "war crimes." While Hamas's October 7, 2023, actions were clear war crimes, evidence also suggests widespread IHL breaches and war crimes by Israel. Specific Israeli actions scrutinized include: imposing a complete blockade (Combined Punishment) on Gaza's civilian population; consistent failure to uphold Proportionality, leading to disproportionate civilian casualties (e.g., Jabalia refugee camp); and repeated assaults on protected civilian infrastructure, including over 137 hospitals, often based on unconfirmed claims of military use. Furthermore, evacuation warnings do not absolve Israel of its continuous duty to protect civilians, and the forced movement of the civilian population is highlighted as an illegitimate act. The essay concludes that the scale and systematic nature of Israeli violations, coupled with official rhetoric blurring the civilian/combatant distinction, demonstrate a profound disrespect for IHL. The essay calls for immediate international action to halt Israel’s military campaign.
War Crime, IHL, Laws of Armed Conflict, War, Geneva Convention, Hague Conference
Copyright (c) 2026 Momina Khaliq https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Temporal Governance: As Moral Principle and Pillar of National Development – A Comparative Case Study of Japan and Pakistan
Time is more than a measure of duration; it is a moral, economic, and institutional currency that shapes the destiny of nations. In advanced societies, the disciplined management of time reflects not just efficiency, but collective responsibility, respect for others, and the maturity of public systems. This paper explores the 2025 Shinkansen incident where a mere 35-second delay resulted in an official apology and full refunds as a case study in how time, when culturally sacralized, becomes a pillar of national identity and governance. Using Japan as a model, this research argues that punctuality is not merely a logistical ideal but a civilizational principle. Rooted in Confucian ethics, group-centric harmony, and the postwar ethic of continuous improvement (kaizen), Japan’s rail system illustrates how respect for time enhances public trust, institutional legitimacy, and societal discipline. The Shinkansen’s near-zero-delay culture is not a coincidence of engineering but a deliberate national investment in what may be termed temporal governance. By contrast, the paper also examines railway systems in developing nations most notably Pakistan where systemic delays are normalized, eroding citizen confidence, lowering productivity, and contributing to a culture of institutional apathy. Here, time is often devalued, not due to lack of capability, but due to fragmented accountability and cultural inertia. Drawing on comparative data and interdisciplinary frameworks from behavioral economics, sociology, and systems governance, the paper contends that nations that do not respect time cannot hope to govern effectively or grow equitably. Ultimately, this study positions punctuality as a proxy for a nation’s internal order and external credibility. It calls for a philosophical shift where time is treated as a finite national resource on par with water, energy, or capital whose disciplined use is essential for achieving trust-based governance, efficient service delivery, and long-term development.
Temporal Governance, Time Ethics, National Development, Governance Culture, Punctuality in Governance, Moral Philosophy of Time, Public Administration Efficiency, Development Policy, Comparative Governance, Japan, Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Pervaiz Khan, Dr. Shaukat Hussain https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Aligning Domestic Cybersecurity Laws with International Best Practices: Comparative Lessons
The expansion of digital technologies and the growing dependence of governments, businesses, and individuals on interconnected digital infrastructures have intensified cybersecurity challenges across the world. Cybercrime, data breaches, cyber espionage, and attacks on critical infrastructure are increasingly transnational in nature, making purely domestic legal responses inadequate. This study examines how domestic cybersecurity laws can be aligned with international best practices to enhance cyber resilience and legal cooperation. Using a comparative legal methodology, the article analyzes key international frameworks such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union, and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. The research evaluates the cybersecurity regulatory regimes of four jurisdictions: Pakistan, the European Union, the United States, and Singapore. Through comparative analysis, the article identifies the strengths and limitations of different cybersecurity governance models, focusing on cybercrime legislation, institutional enforcement mechanisms, data protection standards, and international cooperation mechanisms. The findings demonstrate that effective cybersecurity governance requires harmonized legal frameworks that integrate criminal law, regulatory oversight, technological standards, and cross-border collaboration. The article concludes by proposing policy recommendations for aligning domestic cybersecurity laws with global best practices, emphasizing adaptive regulation, international cooperation, and protection of fundamental rights in the digital era.
Hollywood, American Soft Power, Cultural Hegemony, Gramscian Analysis, Global Media Influence.
Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Ibtasam Ahmad, Dr. Rehman Akhter https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Cyber Governance in Transition: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Cybercrime and Cybersecurity Frameworks in Pakistan and the United Kingdom
The accelerating digitization of governance, commerce, and social interaction has fundamentally transformed cyberspace into a contested regulatory domain, compelling states to recalibrate legal, institutional, and constitutional responses to emerging cyber threats. This article undertakes a comparative evaluation of cyber governance frameworks in Pakistan and the United Kingdom, examining the effectiveness of their cybercrime and cybersecurity regimes within a transitional global landscape. Anchored in a doctrinal and comparative methodology, the study analyzes statutory design, institutional architecture, judicial interpretation, and international alignment to assess how each jurisdiction balances deterrence, digital resilience, and fundamental rights protection. In Pakistan, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 represents a consolidated legislative response to cybercrime, criminalizing unauthorized access, cyberterrorism, and digital fraud while empowering enforcement agencies with investigative and regulatory authority. However, the concentration of powers and broad statutory language raise concerns regarding proportionality, oversight, and institutional capacity. By contrast, the United Kingdom operates a layered regulatory model structured around the Computer Misuse Act 1990, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, complemented by independent oversight bodies and robust judicial review. This segmented architecture reflects a mature governance ecosystem integrating criminal enforcement, data protection compliance, and surveillance accountability. The article argues that while both jurisdictions recognize cyber governance as a strategic imperative, they differ significantly in regulatory philosophy, institutional pluralism, procedural safeguards, and international harmonization. The United Kingdom demonstrates higher structural sophistication and compliance with global standards, whereas Pakistan exhibits a transitional model characterized by evolving oversight mechanisms and enforcement capacity constraints. Nevertheless, Pakistan’s framework reflects notable progress in codifying cyber offences and institutional specialization within a developing regulatory environment. By synthesizing doctrinal analysis with governance theory and the security–liberty paradigm, this research contributes to comparative cyber law scholarship and offers policy-oriented recommendations for enhancing regulatory coherence, strengthening institutional resilience, and harmonizing domestic frameworks with international cyber governance norms.
Cyber Governance, Cybercrime Law, Cybersecurity Regulation, Comparative Legal Analysis, Digital Constitutionalism, Regulatory Effectiveness, Data Protection, Surveillance Oversight, Institutional Capacity, Transnational Cyber Cooperation, Pakistan, United Kingdom
Role of Thalassemia Center in Rehabilitation of Thalassemia Patient: A Case Study in District Bhakkar
Thalassemia is a serious inherited haematolytic disorder, which is also accompanied with severe anemia and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The mutations that cause the disease to occur are those that lead to lack of synthesis of the beta (b) globin gene or a considerable reduction in synthesis of the b-globin chains of hemoglobin. The consequence is; unbalanced erythropoiesis and premature death of red blood cells (RBCs) that causes the chronic anemia and lifelong dependence on blood transfusion. When an individual has one defective b-globin gene and the other normal gene, the illness is referred to as Thalassemia Minor (trait), this could be either asymptomatic or mild. When both the genes are defective more serious forms arise like the Thalassemia Minor and Thalassemia Intermedia in respect to clinical condition severity and age of onset. Thalassemia Major is a widespread disease during the early childhood period whereby the patients require medical and supportive care throughout their lives to prevent complications which are life threatening. This paper was an attempt to explain how the Thalassemia Center of the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ), Bhakkar, contributed to providing total rehabilitative services to thalassemia-affected patients. Specifically, the research was supposed to identify the type of rehabilitative treatment offered by the center (medical management, blood transfusion and iron chelation therapy), psychological counseling, education services, and social support. Besides, the paper examined the perceptions and experiences of the patients and their families regarding the effectiveness and accessibility of these services. It also assessed the problem and challenges of offering holistic rehabilitation in a rural setting with limited resources by the center. The research provided recommendations based on the results regarding how the quality, scope, and sustainability of rehabilitative care to patients with thalassemia could be improved in less-developed societies, such as District Bhakkar, Punjab, Pakistan. The sample population was used as all registered patients with thalassemia receiving treatment at the Thalassemia Center of DHQ Bhakkar, their primary carers and other health workers engaged in the treatment and rehabilitation of the patients such as doctors, nurses, and counselors. The research region was confined to the District Bhakkar that is a relatively underdeveloped district in Punjab providing a good background to the analysis of the rural healthcare delivery systems. The study included 85 respondents that took part in the study including male and female thalassemia patients and other interested parties. Quantitative data were to be analyzed and collected using version 22 of Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) to come up with descriptive and inferential statistics. The results will result in a deeper understanding of the institutional rehabilitation services among the patients with thalassemia and the elements of the policy and program changes to improve the provision of healthcare in rural settings.
Rehabilitation, Psycho-social Support, Medical Management, Psychological Counseling, Health System Challenges
Copyright (c) 2026 Mohsin Iqbal, Dr. Sadia Rafi, Dr. Mumtaz Ali https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
National Security Imperatives versus Data Protection Standards: A Comparative Evaluation of Pakistan and the European Union
The rapid expansion of digital technologies has transformed the architecture of governance, enabling states to deploy sophisticated surveillance mechanisms in pursuit of national security objectives. Simultaneously, the rise of data protection as a fundamental rights paradigm—particularly within the European Union—has institutionalized stringent standards regulating the collection, retention, and processing of personal data. This dual development has intensified the normative and regulatory tension between national security imperatives and data protection standards. This article undertakes a comprehensive comparative evaluation of Pakistan and the European Union to examine how each jurisdiction balances security-driven surveillance powers with constitutional and regulatory data protection safeguards. While Pakistan’s legal framework reflects a security-centric governance model rooted in counterterrorism and cybercrime prevention statutes, the European Union has developed a rights-based regulatory architecture anchored in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Law Enforcement Directive (LED), and constitutionalized privacy protections under the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Through doctrinal analysis, comparative institutional evaluation, and theoretical engagement with proportionality, digital constitutionalism, and regulatory governance theory, this study demonstrates that institutional design is the decisive factor mediating the tension between security and data protection. The article concludes by proposing a calibrated reform framework for Pakistan that integrates proportionality standards, independent supervisory oversight, and transparency mechanisms while preserving legitimate national security capacity.
Digital Expansion, General Data Protection Regulation, Law Enforcement Directive, Transparency, Data Protection, European Union
Copyright (c) 2026 Tasawar Hussain, Dr Shaukat Hussain Bhatti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Socio-legal implications of Labour Court Decisions: Assessing the Impact on Workers` Rights and Labour Market Dynamics in Pakistan
The research aims to explore the overlooked socio-legal context within labour adjudication in Pakistan and its impacts on workers and the labour market owing to recent legislations and economic changes. This research examines the primary outcomes of various judgments in the labour courts. This analysis is anchored in the Industrial Relations Act of 2012 and Constitutional provisions of Article 11, 17, and 37 relating to adjudicated cases of forced labour, right to association, and social justice. This research is primarily based on doctrinal and case law, particularly the 2023 Supreme Court adjudication in Nadia Naz v. President of Pakistan and the 2025 National Industrial Relations Commission on the suspension of trade union bans in the power sector. It discusses the judicial construction of the right to dismissal and the erosion of protection against dismissal in the context of arbitrary unfair labour in exploitation subcontracting. The judicial deed of 2014 in Fauji Fertilizer Co. Ltd. v. NIRC addressed the employer’s vicarious liability and the right to collective bargaining, i.e. the gaps in enforcement of the employer’s vicarious liability and the right to collective bargaining foster the problem of weak market deterrents and unionizing in hazardous work. The draft Labour Codes for 2024 do not seem to recognize the ILO's quasi standards on protecting informal workers in contract labour. More judicial oversight, dedicated digital compliance tools, and harmonized provincial statutes are essential for achieving equitable growth, gender fairness, and stable industrial relations in Pakistan's gig economy.
Labour Courts, Workers' Rights, Socio-Legal Implications, Labour Market Dynamics, Pakistan.
Copyright (c) 2026 Usman Asghar, Dr. Malik Imtiaz Ahmed `, Dr. Shehzada Amir Mushtaq https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Law and the New Precariat: Structural Power, Algorithmic Management and the Denial of Rights
The global expansion of digital labour platforms worldwide has outpaced legal protections, leaving millions of workers subject to an absence of regulatory protection. This paper examines the situation in Pakistan, where platform workers typically lack formal employment status and fall outside labour law protections. It situates Pakistan’s experience within global trends by comparing approaches in India, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the United States, and Latin America. In each context, platform workers face similar challenges: classification as independent contractors, fragmented or outdated regulation, and difficulty exercising labour rights. Workers responded through strikes, campaigns and legal challenges, highlighting systemic power imbalances. International labour standards (notably ILO Conventions No. 87 and 98, recently reaffirmed in the ILO’s Draft Convention on Platform Work (2025)) and emerging regulations (e.g. the EU Platform Work Directive) offer some frameworks, but most laws remain ill-suited to platform work. Structural patterns, such as denial of employment status, multi-tier contracting, and sector-specific rules, systematically exclude platform workers from protections. This paper analyses these patterns from a critical perspective and highlights how they sustain a favourable balance for platform capital. It concludes with reflections on emerging reforms and the prospects for extending decent work rights to platform workers.
Dispute, ADR, Digital Labour, Employment, International Law
Copyright (c) 2026 Usman Nafees Ahmed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
An Analysis of Hollywood Movies as an Instrument of US-Soft Power: Gramcian Model (2000-2020)
The basis of the concept of power in international relations was long-standing based on the existence of military and economic capabilities. Nevertheless, in the post-Cold War period, the cultural authority, especially Hollywood, has become one of the vital components of U.S. influence on the world. This study examines Hollywood cinema as an instrument of American soft power and how Hollywood movies propagate American political ideals including democracy, liberty, moral authority and world citizenship thereby strengthening American hegemony in the evolving multipolar world. The paper analyzes how the ideological dominance in the works of Antonio Gramsci is converted into the cultural endorsement of the film and how it affects the world views of the U.S. political leadership. Concentrating on the timeline between 2000 and 2020, the time frame of the War on Terror and the re-establishment of the American hegemony in a changing geopolitical perspective, this work explores the role of Hollywood films in sustaining and adapting American power in the new geopolitical environment. The study employs the qualitative, interpretivist methodology, which evaluates a purposive sample of films as both political and cultural texts that support and perpetuate global power dynamics. The main sources are movies that are examined and discussed according to the themes of freedom, heroism, patriotism, technological progress, and the righteousness. The theoretical framework is based on secondary data on soft power, cultural hegemony, and media globalization in scholarly literature. Qualitative content analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) are used in the study in order to identify the ideological connotations inherent in these movies and to analyze how Hollywood discourses justify American dominance in the international arena. By positioning Hollywood in the frames of cultural power, this study contributes to a better comprehension of the way in which cultural production sustains the hegemonic power in the present international relations.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zaib Un Nisa, Dr. Adeel Irfan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Claiming Haq from Within: Muslim Feminist Ethics and Women’s Interpretive Agency in Haq (2025)
This article offers a Muslim feminist reading of Haq—a 2025 Indian Hindi-language courtroom movie, streaming on Netflix—that shifts the analysis of women’s agency from secular law and state mediation to Islamic ethical reasoning. It argues that the film constructs agency through the protagonist’s moral claim-making and interpretive authority over the meaning of haq (right, justice, entitlement), thereby foregrounding a form of consciousness grounded in everyday religious knowledge. Drawing on Muslim feminist distinctions between divine ethics and patriarchal jurisprudence, the article theorises agency as an immanent practice of interpretation within tradition rather than as its rejection. Close analysis of the narrative shows that moral legitimacy in the film precedes and exceeds juridical recognition, positioning the protagonist, Shazia Bano, as an ethical subject rather than a passive bearer of rights. The narrative’s eventual reliance on state resolution exposes a tension between women’s Islamic interpretive authority and statist frameworks of justice. By making this tension visible, the article positions that Haq recasts Muslim feminism as an ethically grounded project of interpretive labour under constraint and intervenes in debates on Islam, feminism, and law.
Muslim feminism, Islamic ethics, interpretive authority, women’s agency, haq
Copyright (c) 2026 Mahin Wahla https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Impact of Content Supplementary Concept Maps of Science on Self-Efficacy
Understanding and improving students’ confidence in their ability to learn science is essential for enhancing their academic performance. Literature supports that concept maping improves learning in a variety of areas, including chemistry, physics, and general science, which eventually raises students' academic achievement. Students can better organize difficult concepts, see how scientific concepts relate to one another, and create meaningful connections that deepen their conceptual understanding, which ultimately may affect their psychological domain. Self-efficacy and academic achievements are strongly related because students who can clearly perceive how concepts relate to one another tend to feel more confident about their capacity to learn, remember, and apply scientific concepts. Students' self-efficacy in their own academic ability rises when they succeed using structured visual aids like concept maps, which boosts their confidence and motivation in science learning. The research aimed to investigate how content supplementary concept maps affect academic self-efficacy in General Science of seventh-grade students. For this study content was delimited to concepts related to chemistry in General Science textbook. The population for this study included 307 seventh-grade female students from two elementary schools in Sargodha City. The sample comprised 143 students from public sector institutions. A quasi-experimental design with pretest and posttest control group was employed for this research. The control group received traditional textbook instructions and concept maps attached at the end of selected content whereas the experimental groups received detailed instruction on concept maps, including their purpose and process, with concept maps attached at the end of the selected content. A self-efficacy scale was utilized for both the pre-test and post-test quantification of self-efficacy. Major findings of the study was Concept maps with understanding of its purpose and process improves student’s self-efficacy along with its component constructs i.e generalized academic self-efficacy and subject specific self-efficacy. On the basis of this study, it is recommended that curriculum designers may use this strategy in content presentation and ultimately into teaching methods in order to successfully accomplish learning goals related to enhance student’s self-efficacy, fostering their motivation and confidence in learning general science.
Concept Maps, Content Supplementary Materials, General Science, Self-Efficacy, 7th grade students.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hamda Nasir, Ahmad Bilal Cheema https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Beliefs in Action: Exploring Political and Protest Efficacy among May 9th Protest Participants in Pakistan
This study examines the psychological and communicative factors shaping persistent protest intentions among participants of Pakistan’s May 9, 2023 protests following the arrest of Imran Khan. Using a cross-sectional survey of 300 respondents recruited through purposive and snowball sampling, the research tests a serial mediation model linking media consumption, political efficacy, protest efficacy, perceived risk, and sustained protest intentions. Findings show that media consumption has a weak direct effect on protest persistence but a strong indirect effect through efficacy beliefs. Political efficacy mediates the relationship negatively, reflecting institutional distrust, whereas protest efficacy positively and significantly strengthens intentions to continue protesting. Participants recognize high legal, physical, and social risks, yet deterrence varies; legal consequences are most inhibiting, while social stigma is least deterring due to strong collective identity. Demographic variables show no significant impact. The findings suggest protest persistence emerges from identity-based efficacy beliefs outweighing perceived state repression in high-risk political contexts.
May 9 Protests Pakistan, Political Communication, Social Media Mobilization, Media Framing, Political Polarization, Protest Discourse
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Ifra Iftikhar, Mian Hassan Shahid, Seemal Ajmal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Political Extremism and the Legal Framework in Pakistan: A Critical Analysis
The purpose of the present study was twofold; to identify various forms of political extremism and to examine the efficiency of Pakistani legal framework to address the political extremism. After deploying qualitative approach by combining doctrinal methodology and socio-legal perspective, the study found that political extremism may be adjusted into three major categories based on their severity; violence based, radical speech and propaganda, and suppression of dissidents and pluralism. The study further found that the Pakistani legal framework especially its criminal law largely addressed the instances of violence based political extremism. However, regulation of radical speeches and propaganda remained weakly regulated in the existing legal framework. On the other hand, the suppression of dissidents and pluralism was mostly unregulated by the legal framework in Pakistan. The study recommended targeted legal reforms in the existing legal order to effectively curb the problem of political extremism in Pakistan.
Political Extremism, Violence, Radical Speech and Propaganda, Suppression, Dissent, Pluralism
Copyright (c) 2026 Nasir Majeed, Sadia Nazir Ahmad, Rabia Zulfiqar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in Preventing and Prosecuting Genocide: A Critical Analysis
This article focuses on the critical analysis of the mission of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prevent and prosecute the crime of genocide in the modern international legal system. Although international law prohibits all forms of genocide, modern mass atrocities against most protected groups still occur, raising serious doubts about how effective current accountability systems are. The ICC, being the sole permanent international criminal court to deal with genocide, was created to fill this lacuna, so that the liability of individuals and international deterrence could be addressed. Nonetheless, it is disputed by the degree to which this mandate has been accomplished by the Court. The study follows a qualitative doctrinal and case-study-based research design by analyzing the legal framework, institutional structure, and judicial practice of the ICC in situations pertaining to the issue of genocide. The paper concentrates on four large case studies, including Darfur (Sudan), the Rohingya crisis (Myanmar/Bangladesh), Uganda (Lord’s Resistance Army), and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The analysis reveals that while the ICC has made important symbolic and legal contributions to the fight against genocide, its practical impact on deterrence and accountability remains uneven and highly context-dependent. These findings highlight the need for strengthening state cooperation, refining prosecutorial strategies, and enhancing the Court’s complementarity framework to more effectively prevent and respond to genocidal violence in the future.
International Criminal Court (ICC), genocide, accountability, judicial practice, Darfur, Rohingya crisis, Uganda (Lord’s Resistance Army), and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Ashraf Ali, Syed Nizam Badshah Bukhari, Aftab Haider https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
State’s Strict Liability for Managed Forest Fires under Pakistan’s Tort Jurisprudence
For too long, the legal response to forest fires in Pakistan has been stuck in a loop of finding a criminal match-lighter while ignoring the bigger picture of who actually manages the land. This article takes a hard look at how we can use Tort Law to stop treating these fires as unavoidable mysteries and start treating them as failures of responsibility. By looking at the doctrine of Strict Liability, we argue that if the state or a private owner lets a forest become a tinderbox of dry pine needles and invasive species, they have created a man-made hazard, not a natural landscape. This shifts the focus from the fire’s start to the land’s condition. The study also aims at the Act of God defense. In a world of climate change and 45-degree heatwaves that we see coming weeks in advance, calling a predictable fire an Act of God is simply a legal excuse for poor management. We argue that the state should be held vicariously liable for the omissions of its officers—the guards who don't patrol or the managers who leave fire-breaks uncleared. Lastly, we propose a common-sense shift in the burden of proof. Since the state holds all the maps and logs, they should be the ones to prove they did their job, rather than forcing a victim to prove how a fire started in a thousand-acre forest. It is time our legal system stopped protecting negligent managers and started protecting the environment.
Strict Liability, Forest Fires, Pakistan Law, Accountability, Climate Change, Duty of Care, Land Management, Environmental Justice.
Copyright (c) 2026 Zahid Ullah, Mian Muhammad Saleem, Aftab Haider https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
From Ethical Principles to Legal Obligations: Regulating Artificial Intelligence in the Global Legal Order
Artificial intelligence has become an innovative technology that has significant effects on the legal systems, human rights and international governance. This study focused on an important shift in compliance with ethical standards to enforceable law when it comes to regulating AI in the international legal system. But early AI governance use has been based dominantly on soft law tools and voluntary ethical principles especially those focusing on transparency, fairness, and accountability to stave off damage and enforce adherence, all of which have been found to be not sufficiently effective and comprehensive. In the article, the theoretical frameworks by which AI regulation is based are alleged, including risk regulation, multi-level governance frameworks, principles and practice gap in converting ethical commitments to enforceable legal standards. It critically assesses legal issues of AI being autonomous, opaque, and transnational, the issue of attribution of liability, legal persons, intellectual property, and privacy. The paper evaluates the normative backing of the international human rights law to AI regulation when it identifies enforcement loopholes and jurisdictional challenges. The study establishes critical issues like the pacing problem, geopolitical tensions, institutional constraints, and normative conflicts and suggests the future directions such as adaptive regulation, polycentric governance, technical standards, and rights-based structures. Finally, the article more than contends that the most efficient approach to the regulation of AI demands a hybrid system of governance that involves hard law, soft law, and multi-stakeholder efforts that can result in the technical development of technology being used to benefit human dignity and fundamental freedoms.
Artificial Intelligence Regulation, Ethical Principles, Legal Obligations, International Human Rights Law, Global Legal Order, Transnational Governance
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Khurram Baig, Shahzad Manzoor Khan, Ali Raza Laghari, Akhtar Ali Ansari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Impact of Intellectual Property Rights on Agriculture and Food Security
Intellectual property rights (IP)play a vital role in the development of agricultural innovation by incentivizing novel technologies, high-yield seed varieties, and advanced farming methods. Nevertheless, the enforcement and implications of IP rights within the agricultural sector introduce a complex relationship of advantages and obstacles, significantly impacting agricultural productivity and food security. This study examines the impact of IPRs on agriculture and food security, with a particular focus on crop yield, seed quality, and the economic resilience of farmers and agribusinesses. It begins by examining the existing intellectual property rights (IPRs) related to agriculture, including their objectives, provisions, and implementation. Through a review of the literature, the analysis evaluates the effects of IP rights on the accessibility and affordability of agricultural innovations. The results demonstrate that while IP legislations propel innovation and have the potential to amplify productivity, they also pose challenges concerning technology availability and financial burdens on farmers. The study concludes with strategic policy suggestions aimed at striking a balance between the concerns of innovators, farmers, and food security.
Intellectual Property Rights, Agriculture, Food Security, Farmers’ Rights, Plant Innovation, Global Economy.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Muhammad Mubeen, Uzed Umer, Rohina Malik https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Discrimination in Labour Laws Affecting Women’s Employment in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia: Gaps Between Law and Practice
Despite constitutional guarantees, statutory protections, and international commitments to gender equality, women in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia continue to face persistent discrimination in employment. This research examines the disconnect between formal labor laws and their practical implementation affecting women’s access to, participation in, and retention within the workforce in both countries. The purpose of this study is to critically analyze how ostensibly protective legal frameworks often fail to translate into substantive workplace equality due to weak enforcement, socio-cultural constraints, and institutional gaps. Employing a qualitative doctrinal and comparative legal research design, the study analyzes constitutional provisions, labour legislation, policy reforms, international human rights obligations, and relevant judicial interpretations in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The findings reveal that while both states have introduced legal reforms aimed at promoting women’s employment, discriminatory practices persist through regulatory loopholes, employer discretion, informal sector exclusion, and entrenched patriarchal norms. The study concludes that the persistence of discrimination is not solely a result of inadequate laws but largely stems from ineffective enforcement mechanisms and societal resistance. It emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive implementation strategies, stronger institutional oversight, and harmonization of domestic labour laws with international human rights standards.
Women’s Employment, Labour Law, Gender Discrimination, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Law and Practice Gap.
Copyright (c) 2026 Uzma khan, Shaista Naznin https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Implications of Article 18 of the Pakistan Constitution: Evaluating Landmark Judgements of the Supreme Court
This research examines Article 18 of the Pakistan Constitution, focusing on the freedom of trade, business, and profession. It evaluates landmark Supreme Court judgments to assess the balance between individual economic rights and state regulation. Using doctrinal analysis, the study highlights the qualified nature of economic freedoms, the scope of judicial review, and implications for regulatory frameworks and public welfare policies. Article 18 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan guarantees the freedom of trade, business, and profession subject to qualifications prescribed by law. This article analyses the constitutional text, the doctrinal scope of Article 18, and the major interpretations and implications arising from Supreme Court jurisprudence. The discussion encompasses how the apex court has balanced constitutional freedoms with state regulatory authority, the scope of judicial review in economic rights, and the broader constitutional and socio‑economic effects. The article concludes with reflections on gaps and future directions for jurisprudence under Article 18.
Fundamental Rights, Economic Liberty, Judicial Interpretation, Constitutional Regulation, Public Welfare.
Copyright (c) 2026 Fazail Asrar Ahmed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
An Analysis of the Procedural Innovation of Advisory Jurisdiction in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
The international tribunal on the law of the sea (ITLOS) was incorporated into the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as a specialized court mandate with a view to ensuring peaceful resolution of maritime issues. Since its inception, the ITLOS has continued to innovate procedurals with an aim to deepen the access to the rule of law, the effectiveness of dispute relations, and promote justice between the States of varying legal and economic potential in the lens of the advisory jurisdiction. This research paper is a critical discussion of the evolution of ITLOS processes in a doctrinal and normative way, how the procedural mechanisms of ITLOS regarding advisory jurisdiction. The paper uses a doctrinal legal research approach, examining UNCLOS provisions, ITLOS Rules and judicial practice. The results show that ITLOS has made a major advance in terms of improving procedural justice within the international maritime law, through the reduction of jurisdictional barriers, shortening of delays, and the alleviation of inequities of power. Nevertheless, structural constraints, such as jurisdictional fragmentation, selective participation by the States and legitimacy problems due to overlapping forums are also observed to be a feature of the article. The research finds that although ITLOS has become a procedurally innovative tribunal in the international adjudication sphere, its effectiveness in the long term relies on increased State confidence, normative coherence, and further procedural adjustment to the emerging maritime challenges.
Tribunal, Law of Sea, Advisory Opinion, Justice, International
Copyright (c) 2026 Abida Mumtaz , Ali Raza Laghari , Mohsin Ehsan , Akhtar Ali Ansari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
An Evaluation of the Saudi–Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement
Saudi–Pakistan defense cooperation has long constituted a significant, though often informal, pillar of security relations linking South Asia and the Middle East. Despite decades of military training, advisory roles, and strategic coordination, the effectiveness of this cooperation—particularly in the form of the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA)—as a mechanism for regional stability remains underexplored in academic literature. This article addresses the central question of whether the Saudi–Pakistan SMDA functions as a meaningful strategic alliance capable of contributing to regional stability or primarily serves as a symbolic and deterrent instrument. Employing a qualitative and case study-based methodology, the study draws on official statements, policy documents, and secondary scholarly sources. The article argues that while the SMDA enhances deterrence, alliance signaling, and strategic reassurance—especially in the context of Middle Eastern security dynamics—its impact on regional stability is constrained by ambiguity in formal commitments, divergent regional priorities, and concerns over alliance entrapment. By situating the SMDA within realist alliance theory, this study contributes to broader debates on strategic alliances, informal defense arrangements, and their role in shaping regional stability in complex security environments.
Saudi–Pakistan Relations, Strategic Alliances, Mutual Defence Agreement, Regional Stability, Balance of Power, Defense Diplomacy
Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Tauqeer Hussain Sargana, Dr. Mujahid Hussain Sargana https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Environmental Federalism in Pakistan: A Post-18th Amendment Analysis of Legislative Divergence and Enforcement Challenges Across Provinces
Nowhere in Pakistan's Constitution can the effects of the 18th Amendment (2010) be seen more clearly than in how the Constitution has developed from a highly centralized federal system to one that is more decentralized and federal in nature. The significance of decentralized environmental protection will allow for a government model that is capable of addressing localized environmental realities on a much larger scale than was previously possible. However, research on this transformation has led to the discovery that the new decentralized approach has created a fragmented and convoluted system of governance that is characterized by significant legislative divergence and institutional asymmetry. Comparative analysis of the environmental governance frameworks in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), and Balochistan leads to the identification of major intergovernmental coordination failures and enforcement gaps that exist in all areas of environmental governance. Although devolution has given more power to the provincial legislative assemblies, the lack of effective mechanisms for cooperation between the federal and provincial governments to deal with transboundary environmental issues, coupled with the recent declaration of the "Right to a Clean Environment" as a fundamental human right per the 26th Amendment (2024), calls for the creation of a new federal framework to secure our national environmental security.
Environmental Federalism, 18th Amendment, Legislative Divergence, Right to Life
Copyright (c) 2025 Shaheryar Malik , Asim Mahmood, Shahid Javed Iqbal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
The Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Emotional Resilience at University Level
The purpose of the study was to investigate the Effect of Emotional Intelligence on Emotional Resilience at the University of Sargodha. The population consisted of all undergraduate students enrolled in various departments of the University of Sargodha main campus. Using a multistage random sampling technique from six departments was randomly chosen. A total of 300 students (50) from each department) were selected through random sampling. Two standardized instruments were used for data collection: the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) by Bar-On (1997), the Nicholson McBride Resilience Questionnaire (NMRQ) by Wales (2020). Data were collected through personal visits and analyzed using SPSS (version 22). Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, percentages, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (independent samples t-test and ANOVA) were applied to examine the relationships and differences among variables. The findings revealed significant relationships between Emotional intelligence and Emotional Resilience confirmed the mediating role of Emotional Intelligence in this relationship among BS students.
Emotional Intelligence, Emotional Resilience, Characteristics of Emotional Intelligence, Higher Education, Assessing and Enhancing Emotional Intelligence Strategies, Significance, Assessment Tools and Measurement Approaches.
Copyright (c) 2025 Muqadas Nasar, Dr. Misbah Iqbal, Dr. Ghulam Muhammad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Relationship Between Procrastination and Anxious Symptoms Among Graduate Students
The study aims to examine the relationship between procrastination and anxious symptoms among graduate students. A cross-sectional correlational research design was employed by using the convenience sampling techniques. Data were collected from 250 graduate students by using the Irrational Procrastination Scale (IPS) (Steel, 2010) and Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAS) (Spitzer et al., 2006). Procrastination showed a significant positive relationship with anxious symptoms, indicating that higher levels of procrastination were associated with greater anxiety. Additionally, procrastination was a significant positive predictor of anxious symptoms. These findings highlight the need for interventions targeting both procrastination and anxiety, suggesting the need of strategies such as time management training, stress reduction programs, and emotional regulation techniques may help to improve academic performance and psychological well-being in the targeted population.
Procrastination, Anxious Symptoms, Graduate Students, Time Management, Stress Reduction
Copyright (c) 2025 Noreena Kausar, Hamyle Javaid, Amna Ishaq https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Relationship between information seeking, health literacy, and Cyberchondria Severity: Exploring adolescent perception
The proliferation of online health information has led to a significant increase in cyberchondria, a phenomenon characterized by excessive online health searches, anxiety, and distress. Adolescents, being digital natives, are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of cyberchondria. This study aims to investigate the complex relationship between online health information seeking, health literacy, and cyberchondria severity among adolescents. A comprehensive analysis of the interplay between these variables will provide valuable insights into the factors contributing to cyberchondria and its consequences on adolescent mental health. The findings of this study will have implications for the development of evidence-based interventions to promote healthy online health information-seeking behaviors and reduce the risks associated with cyberchondria.
Cyberchondria, Health Literacy, E-Health Literacy, Online Health Information Seeking, Adolescent Health, Health Anxiety, Digital Health, Mental Health, Online Behavior, Health Communication.
Copyright (c) 2025 Sadam Hussain , Dr. M. Qamar Zaman Baber, Asif Arshad , Muhammad Khuram Shazad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Nomophobia and Psychological Distress Among University Students
This study was aimed to explore the relationship between nomophobia and psychological distress among university students. Cross-sectional design was used in the study. Random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 350 students from university aged 18-26 years. Measures of the study included The Nomophobia Scale (Yildirim & Correia, 2015) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995). Results revealed that there is a significant positive correlation between nomophobia and psychological distress (0.44**), Moreover, regression analysis showed that nomophobia significantly predicted psychological distress. Further, significant mean differences were found in the mean scores of nomophobia and psychological distress across gender. Male students had mean score of M=93.46 as compared to the female students M=85.91 in nomophobia and similarly, higher mean scores of male students M=28.56 as compared to the mean score of female students (M=25.14) in psychological distress. These outcomes highlight the need for promotion of healthy use of smartphones and integrate both digital well-being and mental health interventions programs to decrease psychological distress among students.
Nomo Phobia, Psychological Distress, Depression, Stress, Anxiety Cross-Sectional.
Copyright (c) 2025 Noreena Kausar, Khadija Mujahid, Shaheen Imran https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0
Influence of Transformational Leadership Behavior of Heads on Teachers’ Pedagogical Practices
School leadership behavior plays a pivotal role in the teachers’ performance more specifically in classroom since literature and past researches exposed that his behavior is to be consider essential ingredient in influencing and motivating teachers to attain benchmarked performance. The purpose of the study was to explore the influence of transformational leadership behavior of head teachers on teachers’ pedagogical practices. The objectives of this study were to explore the transformational leadership behavior among head teachers of public secondary schools of tehsil Sargodha, to assess the relationship between transformational leadership behavior of head teachers with teachers’ pedagogical practices. In this study secondary school teachers were taken as population working in all government secondary schools of tehsil Sargodha. A sample of 232 secondary school teachers were taken and obtained their perception about the transformational leadership behavior and pedagogical practices through self-developed questionnaire. Questionnaire having mainly two parts one comprised the items about to know transformational leadership behavior of heads as perceived by secondary school teachers and other parts comprised items about their pedagogical practices. Research instrument was validated through experts’ opinions and pilot tested. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviations, frequencies percentages, and inferential statistics for instance, t-test and Pearson correlation. The behavior of head teachers was judged as per the views of secondary school teachers. On the basis of r value, inspirational motivation behavior, idealized influence behavior, and individualized consideration behavior of transformational leadership was found strongly influence on teachers’ pedagogical practices except in intellectual stimulation behavior. However, overall, a strong positive relationship between transformational leadership behavior and teachers’ pedagogical practices was exposed. It means in schools wherein secondary school teachers perceived that their head teachers exhibiting the transformational leadership behavior the pedagogical practices of teachers are good.
Transformational Leadership, Pedagogical Practices, Leadership Behavior, Head Teacher
Copyright (c) 2025 Kiran Iqbal, Ghulam Zainab Sherazi, Zunaira Fatima, Mamoona Fatima https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0