Pak student represents top UK varsity in debating moot

LONDON: A Pakistani undergraduate student of international law has won the distinction of representing one of the most prestigious UK universities in a renowned debating competition on legal matters.

Agha Ali Durrani, who is a student of Edinburgh University Law School, has been shortlisted from almost 1000 students of the Edinburgh University after oral competitions, teacher recommendations and academic performance.

Agha Ali Durrani is amongst the top five Edinburgh university students taking part in Phillip C Jessop International Law Moot Court Competition which is considered number 1 International Law moot court competition in the world. He is the first Pakistani ever to have won this distinction.

Speaking to Geo News, Agha Ali explained about the competition: “The competition contains a case study which is given to all teams which contains possible violations of International Law carried out by states, and team members are required to prepare a 45 minute speech to present in front of the acting judges, who are engaged in the legal profession. The issues include the right to water, violations of the right to cultural property and possible violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Most of them are Barristers, but they also include associates at law firms and also lecturers at the top universities in the UK. The competition takes place at the Honourable Society of Grays Inn in London.”

He told that international students have misconceptions about Pakistan because of the bad publicity the country gets in the western press all the time. He said that English students, as well as others, often get surprised that Pakistani students can speak English fluently and enjoy command over the international language.

“The fact that I have lived all my life in Pakistan and got my education there and now I compete at the international level, the international students get shocked as their perception of Pakistanis and our youth changed dramatically as it gave them a picture which they do not see in the mainstream media that we are educated and talented people. I tell them how talented and hard-working Pakistani students are and given the right opportunities they are second to none.” He explained that those who will win the competition in London will go to Washington for the final round where jurists from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will oversee the debate.

A team of Pakistani students will also take part in the competition.

Agha Ali Durrani obtained his education in Karachi's City School (Darakhshan Campus) where he was also elected as the Head of student Council in 2011. After that he completed his A-levels from Southshore School in Karachi where he was part of the student council. While he was at Southshore, he applied to Edinburgh University for an Undergraduate degree in Law and got an admission in 2013.

He came to study Law at the Edinburgh University in 2013 and is in his final year now. He has been part of the Edinburgh University Mooting Society, the Edinburgh University Debates Union, he captains Edinburgh University Law School hockey team, and is also the current President of the Pakistan Society at Edinburgh University.