CPEC infrastructure development: AGP for mutual legal exchange mechanism with China

Pakistan Wednesday underscored the need for mutual legal exchange mechanism with China through uniform commercial code to strengthen the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) infrastructure development in the region. Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali came up with a number of suggestions during a meeting with the Chinese delegation led by Chine Ambassador Sun Weidong and Vice-Minister Department of Justice China Liu Zhenyu and four others in his office.
Talking to Business Recorder, Ashtar Ausaf Ali informed about his suggestions to the delegation, saying he suggested that there should be mutual legal exchange mechanism in order to comprehend legal regimes of the both of countries in future. Ashtar Ausaf Ali also proposed uniform commercial code to address possible issues of tariff, taxation and carriage of goods by roads, saying such areas need to be discussed in the quarters concerned of both the states in order to address possible loopholes.
He also proposed that for resolving any possible legal conflict between the two states, a bilateral arbitration will provide a mechanism to avoid from looking at international forum for dispute resolution.
Ashtar Ausaf Ali said he categorically expressed to the delegation that Islamabad can act as a co-ordination office for provinces of the country so in order to ensure all the provinces' participation in mutual law exchange programme, Beijing should open legal centres in all the four provincial headquarters of Pakistan. The AGP proposed bilateral exchange of lawyers programme from both the countries to comprehend legal regime while offering to host legal fraternity members' conference in Pakistan for five lawyers from each bar association of Pakistan and China.
Emphasizing the need for bilateral agreement for institutional arrangement of both the countries, Ashtar Ausaf Ali said such arrangement will make it possible for exchange of Pakistani prisoners languishing in Chinese jails and similarly the Chinese in Pakistani prisons would also be repatriated to home country for trial. Ashtar Ausaf Ali said that he has profound sharing with Chinese delegation far a mechanism to get protected from organized crime including mail frauds, cyber crime, gunrunning, narcotics and prostitution.
The AGP also proposed to homogenise the Chinese laws with Pakistani laws, particularly in the context of Land Acquisition Act under which no land would be acquired without paying the compensation amount. Justifying the need to harmonise the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act with the Chinese law, the AGP said that is important as industrial parks would be built on Pakistani soil.
Later, issuing a press release, the AGP office said that a Chinese delegation headed by Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong and comprising Vice-Minister Department of Justice, Liu Zhenyu, Inspector Department of Judicial Assistance and Foreign Affairs, MOJ, Hu Yiding, Inspector Bureau of Judicial Expertise, MOJ, Wo Lingsheng, Director General Justice Department of Heilongjiang Province, Ren Zengang, Official, General Office, MOJ, and Project Officer, Department of Judicial Assistance and Foreign Affairs, MOJ Ms Chen Jingjing, called on Attorney General for Pakistan Ashtar Ausaf Ali and Additional Attorney Generals Amir Rehman and Waqar Rana.
During the meeting Ashtar Ausaf Ali expressed his desire to support the delegation generally and particularly with regard to law and justice. The two sides also agreed to expedite the ratifications of mutual agreements and treaties that had been agreed upon but are awaiting their ratification. "The Attorney General, highlighting greater cooperation between Pakistan and China expressed his desire to ensure that the legal regimes in the two states were prepared for the anticipated growth in economic activity between Pakistan and China. In pursuit of such, the states should attempt to homogenise laws, acting as a model for mutual assistance and cooperation," said the statement.