ISLAMABAD – The Government of Pakistan has announced the award of Sitara-i-Imtiaz to Ms Aisha Rasool Mehsud, Senior Consultant (Research & Opinion), Ministry of Law & Justice, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to public service, justice sector reform, legal education, digital transformation, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and Pakistan’s international legal engagement.
A distinguished legal professional, academician and public sector reform leader with over 15 years of service, Ms. Rasool holds an LL.M. in Corporate & Commercial Law from the University of York, UK, and is an accredited mediator of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK). Hailing from South Waziristan, one of Pakistan’s historically underserved regions, her journey to national and international prominence stands as an inspiring example of resilience, professional excellence and the transformative power of education. Currently serving as Project Director of the International Mediation & Arbitration Centre (IMAC) and the Case Assignment & Management System (CAMS) at the Ministry of Law & Justice, she has played a central role in advancing justice sector reforms through policy development, institutional strengthening, digitalization, international cooperation and professional capacity building.
At the international level, Ms. Rasool represented Pakistan as a Member of the Expert Working Group of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed), contributing to the drafting of its Convention and the formulation of the Rules on International Commercial and Investment Mediation. Her contribution has strengthened Pakistan’s participation in the emerging global architecture for the peaceful settlement of international disputes. Her leadership has also helped position Pakistan as a platform for international legal and judicial capacity building. In May 2026, IMAC organized the four-day international training programme “Advanced Treaty Practice: From Signature to Domestic Law” in Islamabad, bringing together participants from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Pakistan and Türkiye.
Held from 18–21 May 2026, the programme focused on treaty negotiation, drafting, ratification, implementation and domestic incorporation, and marked an important step in strengthening regional cooperation and Pakistan’s role in international legal capacity building. This was followed by the Executive Judicial Training Programme “The Judicial Craft,” held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 21–24 July 2026, under the institutional cooperation between the Ministries of Law and Justice of Pakistan and Justice of Azerbaijan. The programme brought Pakistan’s judicial and legal expertise to members of the Azerbaijani judiciary and promoted professional exchange in areas central to effective adjudication.
As Project Director IMAC and a member of the Pakistani training team, Ms. Rasool contributed to programme’s organization and delivery, including sessions on communication skills, courtroom interaction and conflict management. These initiatives have strengthened Pakistan’s growing legal and judicial cooperation with partner countries, including Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, China, Türkiye and Uzbekistan. As Project Director of IMAC, Ms. Rasool has played a pivotal role in promoting mediation, arbitration and ADR in Pakistan as efficient, accessible and cost-effective mechanisms for dispute resolution. She has led nationwide awareness and capacity-building initiatives involving judges, parliamentarians, lawyers, civil servants and the business community, while contributing to legal and policy reforms aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s dispute-resolution framework.
Her contributions to digital justice and judicial education are equally significant. She has led the development and implementation of CAMS, a flagship Government of Pakistan initiative aimed at enhancing efficiency, transparency and real-time case management. Earlier, she played a key role in establishing the E-Campus of the Federal Judicial Academy, introducing technology-enabled judicial training and modern learning platforms. In recognition of her contribution to public-sector innovation, she received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Ms. Rasool has served at the Federal Judicial Academy, Islamabad, and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy, Peshawar. She established the Federal Judicial Academy’s first research journal, the Federal Law Journal, securing its ISSN, DOI and international indexing. She has authored more than 40 research papers published in international journals, contributed to training manuals and played a leading role in developing legal research platforms including the Federal Law Journal, Indus Journal of Law and Social Sciences (IJLSS), and IMAC Review. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms. Rasool has supported educational opportunities for disadvantaged students, including orphans, through the Mahsud Welfare Association (MWA) and other organizations.
The award of Sitara-i-Imtiaz recognizes Ms. Aisha Rasool’s exceptional contribution to justice sector reform, ADR, digital governance, judicial education, international capacity building and global legal cooperation. Her remarkable journey from South Waziristan to national leadership and international legal forums is a powerful testament to resilience, excellence and public service, and an inspiration particularly for women and young people from Pakistan’s underserved regions.
