Remedies to Challenge Arbitral Awards in Pakistan

Abstract

Available remedies to challenge arbitral awards in Pakistan are modification, remission, annulment and revocation of recognition and enforcement. Arbitration is a method through which disputing parties resolve their disputes outside the Court by avoiding technicalities of procedural law. If there is irregularity regarding process and procedure of arbitral tribunal, parties to an arbitration agreement may apply against it in the Court. Arbitrator files an arbitral award in the Court after completion of arbitral proceedings. If arbitral award is domestic and comes under ambit of Civil Court, arbitrator files arbitral award there but in case of foreign arbitral award, parties to arbitration agreement are required to file arbitral award with arbitration agreement and in case if arbitral award and arbitration agreement are not in official language of Pakistan, translation in official language is required to be submitted before High Court for implementation of arbitral award in Pakistan. Aggrieved party to arbitration agreement may challenge arbitral award before the Court for modification under section 15, for remission under section 16 and for setting aside under section 30 of the Arbitration Act 1940. Recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award may be challenged under article 5 of the New York Convention 1958. The UNCITRAL Model Law 1985 and other relevant International Conventions are not applicable in Pakistan thus aggrieved party may not avail grounds mentioned in these Statutes for modification, remission, setting aside and revocation. Pakistan is an Islamic country hence no award can be implemented in Pakistan if it is against injunctions of Islam under the light of Holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ï·º which comes under ambit of public policy which is one of the grounds for revocation of recognition and enforcement of an arbitral award in Pakistan.