Pakistan College of Law begins 2025 with one of the biggest moot court competitions in the country

Between 25 and 26 January 2025, the Pakistan College of Law (PCL) Moot Court Society proudly hosted the 12th edition of its Annual National Moot Court Competition. This was a significant event that brought together students of law from various institutions across Pakistan.

It was truly a national event, with 32 registered teams and over 100 participants from all across the country, including Multan, Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Peshawar, Quetta, Islamabad, and even Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 

This year’s moot court provided a platform for students to showcase their research and advocacy skills, critical thinking, and legal knowledge in a simulated court environment, further enhancing their understanding of legal proceedings.

The ‘moot problem’ presented issues relevant to defamation, freedom of expression, right to privacy and potential liability of social media platforms for failure to regulate content online. Each team submitted memorials or written pleadings prior to the start of the oral rounds. These were assessed and marked on the basis of the quality of drafting and legal arguments presented. 

Once all the teams had arrived at the venue, the event began with an opening ceremony welcoming all teams and introducing the proposition to them through a visual depiction of the events that led to the dispute in the moot proposition. After the opening ceremony, teams were escorted to their courtrooms by the bailiffs, and the court clerks proceeded to invite the judges to the courtroom. 

Day 1 began with preliminary matches with each team being given the opportunity to plead, once as the Claimant and once as the Respondent, before a panel of two judges. The judges for the preliminary rounds consisted of senior practising lawyers and academics who had participated in similar competitions themselves as students. This ensured that they were well acquainted with mooting activity and what to look out for in order to establish which teams would qualify further.

During the oral pleadings, the participants were tested on their preparation and research, which further showcased their ability to think on their feet and respond to challenging questions from the judges. Every room in both PCL campuses had hearings being conducted simultaneously, with the participants’ enthusiasm in making their arguments adding to the excitement of the event. 

In between both preliminary rounds, students from different teams had the opportunity to socialise and network over lunch. This lunch break provided the participants with time to relax and further perfect their arguments before starting the second preliminary round. It was a whole tiring day of litigation for the participating teams and after Day 1’s rounds ended, the participants enjoyed a social night and dinner, in which qualifying teams for the Semi-Finals were announced. 

The social event consisted of a Qawali night where the atmosphere was filled with participants rhythmically clapping, singing and dancing along to vibrant music from all parts of Pakistan. Participating teams even performed their cultural dances. All those present had a chance to witness the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan, and appreciate the beauty of poetry that transcends the boundaries of language. This electrifying social was in essence a well-deserved treat for all participants, who had been tirelessly working and preparing for the competition. 

After the Qawali and dinner were over, the Dean of Pakistan College of Law, Professor Humayoun Ihsan, addressed the audience. He then announced the results of Day 1 to establish which four Semi-Finalist teams would moot against each other the following day.

On Day 2 of the event, the Semi-Final and Final matches were conducted. The qualifying participants had the privilege to make oral submissions before highly reputable legal professionals. In the Semi-Finals, there were two benches made of four judges each consisting of Barristers, law professors, and practising lawyers. The judges’ questions proved to be a significant learning exercise for the teams, as they were continuously scrutinised about their understanding of the law and facts of the proposition. 

After a rather exciting and tough Semi-Final, the Finalists were announced, and the toss of a coin determined which side each of the Final Teams would plead on behalf of. Following a refreshment break, the two Final Teams came to plead before a three-member bench consisting of sitting Lahore High Court Justices, Honourable Mr Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, Honorable Mr Justice Asim Hafeez, and Ms Fauzia Viqar, the Federal Ombudsperson for Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace. 

After an intense Final match, in which the bench actively questioned the teams, the judges commended the participants’ legal acumen and appreciated PCL’s in hosting and organising the event, which gave so many law students the opportunity to work on their skills.

The event concluded with a Certificate and Prize Distribution Ceremony, where the top-performing teams and individual participants were recognised by the judges for their exceptional efforts. Pakistan College of Law remains dedicated to fostering a culture of legal excellence and innovation, and this moot court competition is a testament to its ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of legal professional in Pakistan.

We look forward to continuing this tradition in the years to come, encouraging students to hone their skills and contribute meaningfully to the field of law. We are now looking forward to the 13th Edition of the National Moot in 2026.

Ms Laiba Irshad is an Alumna of University of London from where she graduated with an LLB (Hons) and LLM. She is currently the Associate Director International Programmes in Pakistan College of Law, Lecturer and the Faculty Supervisor of the PCL Mooting Society.