Meet Our Team
Vice President
LLB Hons. University of London BS Accounting & Finance, NUST Business School
LLB Hons. University of London BS Accounting & Finance, NUST Business School
Prof. Dr. Javed Rehman
Senior Advisor (LL.B, LL.M, PhD)
Dr. Javaid Rehman is a distinguished legal scholar with over three decades of academic experience. Dr. Rehman has built a formidable reputation at international forums such as the United Nations. He is a respected member of both the Punjab Bar Council and the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn (United Kingdom), and an Associate Member of Garden Court North Chambers, UK. Dr. Rehman is a renowned expert in Islamic law, International Law and Human Rights and Constitutional Law. He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Hull, UK, specializing in International law. Dr. Rehman has delivered lectures at the Transitional Justice Institute of Ulster University, a globally recognized center for research in conflict resolution, transitional justice and human rights, and Brunel University, London.
Dr. Rehman served as the General Coordinating Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law (Brill) from 2017 to 2022, where he oversaw publications that have had a direct impact on international legal practice. His role as Series Editor for Routledge’s Islamic Law in Context and Comparative Constitutionalism in Muslim Majority States has contributed to the development of legal frameworks used in academic debates and contentions concerning Islamic and constitutional law. Dr. Rehman has also been a Senior Legal Advisor to the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Freedom of Religion or Belief and the APPG on Pakistani Minorities, providing expert legal opinions to the Parliamentary Groups. His professional experience as an Islamic and International lawyer is further demonstrated by his service as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran from 2018 to 2024, a role that underscored his commitment to upholding human rights, justice and the rule of law.
Throughout his career, Dr. Rehman has delivered over 200 public lectures, addressing the senior judiciary in the UK, members of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and high-level policymakers. He has also engaged with parliamentarians, diplomats, and senior public officials in various countries, including the UK, the USA, Sweden, the Maldives, and Malaysia. As a valued member of ILF, Dr. Javaid Rehman brings his vast expertise and experience to bear on complex legal issues, providing authoritative guidance to our audience and members navigating intricate legal propositions. His contributions to ILF have been instrumental in shaping and improving the legal profession in Pakistan, and his commitment to upholding justice and human rights continues to inspire and inform our work.
Dr Ayesha Shahid
Senior Advisor (LL. B, LL.M, PhD)
Dr Ayesha Shahid is an Assistant Professor at Coventry Law School, Coventry University, United Kingdom. Dr Ayesha has held teaching positions at University of Hull, Brunel University, University of Warwick, United Kingdom and Faculty of Law University of Peshawar, Pakistan. Dr Ayesha has also been the recipient of prestigious research fellowships at Human Rights Centre, Columbia University, USA, University of Warwick, UK and the Max Planck Institute for Comparative and Private International Law, Germany. She has also worked on various research projects funded by the UK Centre for Legal Education, Asia Foundation, International Labour Organization, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Higher Education Commission, and Max Planck Institute for Comparative and Private International Law. With a distinguished academic career of more than 25 years Dr Ayesha Shahid has developed her expertise in teaching and research in International Law and Human Rights, Islamic Law, Gender and the Law, and Constitutional and Administrative Law.
She has delivered guest lectures at prestigious universities in the UK and overseas, and presented papers at various international conferences. Her monograph titled, Silent Voices, Untold Stories Women Domestic Workers and their Struggle for Empowerment, published by the Oxford University Press, is a socio-legal study that questions the efficacy of formal law as a tool for empowering women domestic workers in Pakistan. Dr Ayesha Shahid also has a keen research interest in Islamic Legal tradition(s) and her research focuses on a wide range of Islamic Family law issues including Family law reform in the Muslim world, post-divorce maintenance for women, and application of Islamic Law by the Muslim Diaspora in the West. Her research in this field of Islamic Law has been published in esteemed peer-reviewed journals. The second strand of her research focuses on the history of Islamic International Law from a comparative perspective that challenges the Western and Euro-centric vision of international law.
This research has culminated in the form of an edited book titled International Law and Islam: Historical Explorations, Brill Publishers co- edited with Professor Ignacio-de la Rasilla. During 2014-2020, Dr Ayesha has held key editorial positions as Editor in Chief of the Asian Yearbook of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and Journal of Islamic State Practice and International Law. Currently she is an editorial Board member of the Manchester Journal of Transnational Islamic Law and Practice. Dr Ayesha is also a member of the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, Society of Legal Scholars, Socio-legal Studies Association, and Association of Law Teachers, United Kingdom. As a valued member of ILF, Dr Ayesha Shahid brings with her a vast experience and expertise in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate Law programmes and curriculum development.
DR. AHMAD ALI GHOURI
Senior Advisor
(LL.B, LL.M, PhD)
Dr. Ahmad Ghouri is a renowned expert in International Investment and Commercial Arbitration, specializing in Shariah-compliant Dispute Resolution. With a distinguished career spanning over more than two decades, he has accumulated extensive experience in Commercial Law and Dispute Resolution, providing expert counsel to a diverse range of clients, including private and public organizations, government ministries, and multinational corporations. Dr. Ghouri has expertise in complex dispute resolution, leveraging his in- depth knowledge of International Investment Law, International Commercial Arbitration, Corporate Law, and Governance.
His academic appointments, including teaching Commercial Law at the University of Sussex, further underscore his commitment to advancing the field. He has also authored several influential works in the field of International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution, including Interaction and Conflict of Treaties in Investment Arbitration (Kluwer 2015) and The Law and Practice of Foreign Arbitration and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in Pakistan (Springer 2013).
Dr. Ghouri serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Manchester Journal of Transnational Islamic Law and on the Global Advisory Board of the Centre for International Investment and Commercial Arbitration, Pakistan. As a valued member of ILF, Dr. Ghouri brings unparalleled expertise and a proven track record of success both in academics and advisory, making him an invaluable asset to our audience. His ability to navigate multiple jurisdictions and legal systems has earned him a reputation as a seasoned counsel and advisor in international arbitration matters.
Muhammad KalimUllah Gujjar
President
LL.M, LL.B (Gold Medalist)
Mr. Kalim Ullah boasts over nine years of experience in the legal field, specializing in constitutional, corporate, banking, civil, and international law. His dedication and concern for the upgradation of the legal profession and the training and capacity building of our youth, has moved him to join ILF. Mr. Kalim has provided counsel on international law matters for inter- ministerial initiatives.
His courtroom prowess is evident through successful representations in civil, consumer, intellectual property, district courts, regulatory bodies, special tribunals, and high courts across Pakistan. Notably, his legal insights find a platform in reputable publications such as The Friday Times, Daily Times, and Daily Express. Mr. Kalim Ullah also shares his legal expertise as a lecturer at the International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Hussain Asghar
Vice-President
LLB Hons. University of London
BS Accounting & Finance, NUST Business School
Hussain Asghar, a proficient legal professional, who possesses a diverse and robust academic background in law, accounting, and finance. He earned his LLB Hons. from the University of London and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from NUST Business School.
Enrolled as an Advocate and a member of the Islamabad Bar Council and International Lawyers Association he is dedicated to exploring innovative and efficient solutions for intricate corporate and civil litigation matters. Mr. Hussain has conducted various training sessions and workshops organized by the U.S. Embassy and Lincoln’s Corner Pakistan for women's empowerment and human rights advocacy in Pakistan. His addition to ILF has energized this platform.
Shah Zaman S. Shami
Secretary General
Shah Zaman S. Shami, a distinguished individual from Sheikhupura, has demonstrated exceptional academic and professional accomplishments. He was a position holder in the Lahore Board during his intermediate studies at Government College University Lahore, where he earned an Academic Distinction and a bronze medal. He was also awarded the Quaid e Azam Merit Scholarship by the Lahore Board for his outstanding academic performance. Recognizing his achievements in intermediate results, the Punjab Government invited him to a three-day workshop at Punjab House Murree. A graduate of the University of Punjab, Shah Zaman gained practical experience through internships at the Judicial Commission (for water and environmental issues), chaired by Justice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court, and at the law firm Jurist Panel. An active participant in moot court competitions, he has won multiple awards, including the Henry Dunant International Moot Court Competition. His leadership roles extended to executive posts in the Punjab University Law Moot Society and Literary Society. Shah Zaman holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Law from the Post Graduate School of Legal Studies and served as President of the Character Building Society, founded by NAB at Punjab University Law College. His professional journey continues as he works as a Junior Associate at Jurist Panel while also founding TaxCorFil, a firm dedicated to providing tax and corporate services.