LUMS Students Make History as the First Pakistani Team to Win the Jean-Pictet International Humanitarian Law Competition!

In a historic achievement, three students from the Shaikh Ahmed Hassan School of Law (SAHSOL) have won the 47th edition of the Jean-Pictet International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Competition. Aizaz Arif (BA-LL.B ’25), Sakina Zulfiqar (BA-LL.B ’25), and Asfand Katchela (BA-LL.B ’26) comprise the first Pakistani team to triumph in this prestigious event since its inception in 1989, marking a defining moment for Pakistan in the field of IHL.

The Jean-Pictet Competition is a training event in IHL for university students. Selected teams receive training in the months leading to the week-long competition, which takes place at a unique venue each year. This year, the teams met in Bali, Indonesia, to compete in the context of simulations and role-play exercises built around a fictitious armed conflict.

The competition brought together over 140 delegates from more than 40 countries, including Master's and PhD students specialising in IHL. Participants hailed from five continents and represented some of the world’s most esteemed IHL institutions in countries like the USA, UK, Canada, Switzerland, India, France, Australia, Russia, Indonesia, Japan, and Ukraine.

Competing against such a distinguished pool, the LUMS team showcased exceptional legal expertise and advocacy skills, excelling on one of the most renowned platforms for IHL. Their victory highlights their talent and dedication, as well as the unwavering support of LUMS faculty, who provided mentorship and strategic guidance throughout their journey.

Commenting on their win, the team credited LUMS’ holistic educational environment as the main factor behind their achievement. As an example, Asfand identified his extracurricular theatre activities at LUMS as extremely helpful during role-play simulation exercises at the competition.

“I think the primary reason that we won was the quality of education that we get here,” said Sakina, highlighting that LUMS’ competitive academic environment taught them to perform well under pressure.

“Something that helped us out a lot was our class participation experience at LUMS, in terms of thinking on the field,” added Aizaz.

Congratulating the winners on their achievement, Dr. Ali Cheema, Vice Chancellor of LUMS, said, “This accomplishment is a testament not only to your talent and dedication as law students but also to the commitment of your faculty and the excellence of the law programme at SAHSOL.”

This achievement brings immense pride to both LUMS and Pakistan, highlighting the growing prominence of Pakistani legal scholars on the global stage. Congratulations to the LUMS Jean Pictet Team 2025 on this extraordinary achievement!