Seeking Peace Without Valuing Law
While speaking at a local school for career counselling I asked children about their future goals. Everyone who stood up to answer either wanted to be a doctor or an engineer. This was already in my anticipation thus did not come to me as a shock. Four years back in 2012 when I was about to start my journey in legal studies quitting medicine, this was perhaps the second biggest challenge of my life. From Jhang, a small city in Punjab, to Lahore, I don’t know how destiny paved ways for my passion towards law. But the thing to worry now was how to convince these children and the people in general to have a different approach towards law as a discipline and a career.
“How many of you want to be treated justly?” the next question I asked. Everyone raised their hands. “How would you be given justice when no one wishes to stand and impart justice?” I said.
This was the real dilemma which existed at my time and still exists about pursuing the legal profession by capable people. There are various reasons behind this worst opinion about such a noble job. Excess of incompetent and unskilled legal practitioners, hooligan behavior of lawyers who forget the dignity of their profession at times, the failure of institutions to provide quality legal education, and media to propagate a positive air about this field can be the broad classifications. Non-implementation of law being the foundation of all. The problems are quite evident and are increasing in volume and intensity since no one is paying heed to solve them.
But, there can be two approaches towards this predicament.
One, to let the things be as they are by which the system will deteriorate further. And the other, to take initiative and start changing the trends. The recent Bar Council Rules 2015 are a step to promote quality legal education which would certainly boost the research and development of law in Pakistan if they do not face the same fate as many of the laws in Pakistan unfortunately do.
But the question arises as to how long would we keep sitting doing nothing, waiting for others to bring change. Mahatma Gandhi had said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. This is not hard or to be treated as impossible nor is this too easy to be taken as a piece of cake. It’s like a game playing in one’s mind but perceptions can never be changed when the minds are closed. Perceptions – that is what we need to change by speaking, spreading awareness, holding seminars and above all, abiding by the law.
Until and unless we value the law which is the ultimate tool to bring peace and prosperity, wishing for peace is a waste!
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of CourtingTheLaw.com or any organization with which she might be associated.
