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Rules & Procedures

Rules & Procedures

Introduction

Slaw as an Alternative Dispute Resolution Institute in Pakistan. Through its website, Slaw.solutions, it provides online services for Alternative Dispute Resolution. The platform makes procedures and administrative services such as conciliators, mediators, and arbitrators easier. Slaw Rules provide reliable, efficient, and transparent services.


Section 1: Overarching Guidelines


Summary of Title, Scope, and Use

We gather demographic information, platform kinds, preferences, anonymous usage data, and macro claim data, among other non-personal and personal data. Email addresses, names, and dispute information supporting claims made through the site's registration, settlement, mediation, conciliation, chat, phone calls, arbitration, and other dispute resolution procedures are examples of personal information.


  1. Synopsis, Scope, and Utilisation

    In addition to the Arbitration and Mediation, parties who agree to refer issues to Slaw for arbitration, mediation, or conciliation must abide by the Slaw Rules, as amended. Mandatory agreements or provisions of law will take precedence over Slaw Rules in cases of dispute. these regulations will be legally obligatory and apply to all dispute resolution procedures.


  2. Definition and Interpretations

    The following terms shall mean the following things in these Slaw Rules:


    1. The Arbitration and Conciliation Act of 1945 defines "arbitration".

    2. "Arbitral Tribunal" refers to a panel of arbitrators or an arbitrator appointed in accordance with Slaw Rules.

    3. The term "Arbitration Act" refers to the Arbitration Act of 1940, as it may have been changed over time.

    4. "Award" refers to any extra, final, interim, or partial award made by an arbitrator or emergency arbitrator in accordance with the Act.

    5. "Case Manager" refers to the person designated by Slaw to offer secretarial and administrative support to the Registrar, Neutrals, and Parties to any proceedings conducted in accordance with SLaw Rules.

    6. "Claimant" refers to the party that started the arbitration process.

    7. "Communication" refers to any correspondence that Slaw sends to the parties in dispute, including notices, invitations, instructions, notifications, pleadings, applications, documents, orders, awards, certificates, reports, and settlement agreements.

    8. "Court" will have the meaning assigned to it by the Mediation and Arbitration Acts.

    9. "Document-based Arbitration" refers to arbitration processes that are limited to using the papers that the parties in dispute have given.

    10. "The definition and description of "Documents and their admissibility" defined in the Pakistan law, applies.

    11. "Initiating party" refers to the party or parties that start the mediation and conciliation process.

    12. In the absence of a previous arbitration clause or agreement, "Invitation to Arbitration" refers to the invitation sent by one party to another to take part in the arbitration proceedings under Slaw Rules.

    13. "Letter of Request" refers to the claimant's request to Slaw for the administration of proceedings in accordance with Slaw Rules.

    14. "Neutral" refers to the arbitrator(s), conciliator(s), or mediator(s) assigned to the Slaw proceedings.

    15. "Panel" refers to the neutrals that are listed on our site and and are empanelled with Slaw.

    16. "Pre-Proceeding Call" refers to the initial call, during which a Case Manager or member of SLaw's internal calling team speaks with each party individually to an arbitration proceeding conducted under Slaw Rules. During this call, the parties are given important details about the arbitration, conciliation, and mediation procedures.

    17. The "Pre-Arbitration Notice," as defined by Act Section.

    18. "Registrar" refers to the Registrar in office at the time of appointment as well as any additional individuals designated by Slaw to perform the Registrar's functions in accordance with these regulations.

    19. In arbitration procedures conducted in accordance with Slaw Rules, the term "respondent" refers to the person asked to provide a response to a claim submitted by the claimant.

    20. Odrways Solutions Private Limited will be referred to as "Slaw." According to the Introduction, Slaw is an alternative conflict resolution institute. It offers technical and administrative assistance to enable the conduct of conciliation, arbitration, and mediation processes in compliance with the Arbitration Act's.

    21. "Slaw Arbitration Clause" refers to a dispute resolution clause that the parties have agreed upon, either before or after the dispute arises, to resolve their disagreement through arbitration, conciliation, or mediation proceedings and the related administrative services provided by Slaw The clause can be as follows:

      1. In writing, either as a separate arbitration agreement or as a clause included in the parties' primary contract.

      2. Approved on the Platform by the parties.

      3. "Slaw ODR Platform" or "Platform" refers to the online platform for dispute resolution created by Slaw, which is accessible at Slaw.solutions.

    22. Unless there is an indication to the contrary in the Slaw Rules:


    23. "Law" refers to any published directive, guideline, notice, requirement, or governmental limitation that has the legal force of law in any jurisdiction, as well as any applicable statute, rule, regulation, ordinance, judgement, order, decree, authorisation, or authorisation.

    24. "Person" means any of the following: an individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association of persons, trust, unincorporated organisation, government (federal, state, or local), sovereign state, or any department, agency, authority, or political subdivision thereof, international organisation, society, agency, or authority (in each case, whether or not having separate legal personality), and their respective successors and assignees. For an individual, this also means his legal representatives, administrators, executors, and heirs; in the case of a trust, it means the trustee or trustees serving in the interim.

    25. This complete set of Slaw Rules is referred to by the phrases "hereof," "herein," "hereby," "hereto," and its derivatives.

    26. The terms "female," "male," and "neutral" are all used when referring to a gender.

    27. A reference to a statute or a provision of a statute refers to the statute or the portion of the statute as it has been periodically changed or reenacted.

    28. The plural is included in the singular and vice versa.

    29. The Slaw Rules' titles are merely included for ease of reference and should be disregarded for interpreting and construing the Slaw Rules.

    30. All references to "include" or "including" are to be interpreted broadly.

    31. When the term "signature" is used in the Slaw Rules, it refers to an electronic signature, both of which are subject to periodic amendments.

    32. "International commercial arbitration" as defined by the Arbitration Act shall be included in references to arbitration procedures under Slaw Rules.

    33. The reference to "time of day" pertains to Pakistan Standard Time.

    34. When any number of days is mentioned, it refers to the number of days that Slaw is open for regular business operations (apart from Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays).

    35. When the word "Slaw Rules" is used, it refers to the policies, annexures, protocols, rules, guidelines, code of conduct, terms and conditions, and other essential documents that are published at www.slaw.solutionsand are necessary for the Platform to function.

    36. In accordance with their well-known technical, trade, or commercial meanings, terminology and abbreviations are used in these Slaw Rules.

    37. Any reference to an article, clause, annexure, or schedule shall be construed as a reference to the Slaw Rules, their annexures, or their schedule.


  3. Part II - Arbitration Rules
    Scope of Application


  4. The Arbitral Tribunal shall conduct the arbitral proceedings in conformity with the main principles of these Rules, except insofar as these Rules are silent on any topic pertaining to the arbitral proceedings and the parties have not further agreed otherwise.

  5. The Arbitral Tribunal will interpret these Rules in accordance with their intended purpose and in the most appropriate manner for the specific arbitration in the event that there is any disagreement over their meaning.

  6. Document-based arbitration, which depends on documents produced or submitted by the Parties, is the standard procedure for arbitration procedures started or filed on the Platform.

  7. As long as any party requests it, the tribunal may hold an oral hearing on any matter. The Tribunal may issue a suitable order in response to the request.

  8. Method Of Notification And Time Interval Computations


  9. Any communication channel that permits or makes a record of the transmission of the message is acceptable for the transmission of notices, which include notifications, communications, and proposals.

  10. When sending a message via electronic mail, the recipient's time zone is taken into consideration to determine when it is considered delivered, provided the communication hasn't been returned to the sender.

  11. When computing a period of time under these rules, the day after the day that a notice is presumed to have been received is the start of the period. The time frame is extended until the first working day that follows if the last day of the period falls on a Saturday or Sunday, a national holiday, or both. Holidays, whether official or national, including Saturdays and Sundays that fall within the time frame are taken into account when determining the duration.

  12. Commencement of Arbitration

    1. A party seeking to start an arbitration under these rules (the "Claimant") must submit a Letter of Request to the Registrar, along with any supporting documentation (statement of claim, interim application, etc.). The Letter of Request must contain the following information:

    2. The full name and contact information of each party to the arbitration, including their full address, email address (if applicable), and registered mobile number.

    3. A copy of the pre-arbitration notice in accordance with Arbitration Act . The following will be included in the Pre-Arbitration Notice: (a) A request that arbitration be used to resolve the disagreement; (b) The names and contact information of the parties and, if applicable, their appointed representatives; (c) A brief description of the claim and an indication of the amount involved, if any; (d) Identification of any contract or other legal instrument out of or in relation to which the dispute arises; (e) A brief description of the claim and an indication of the amount involved, if any; (f) A broad description of the relief or remedy sought; and (g) If the parties haven't already agreed, a recommendation about the number of arbitrators, language, and arbitration location.

    4. A party may request the Platform's assistance in delivering this notification. No dispute regarding the adequacy of the Pre-Arbitration Notice may impede the Arbitral Tribunal's establishment; the Arbitral Tribunal will ultimately decide on this matter.

    5. A statement identifying which arbitration agreement each claim is brought under, in cases where the claims are made under multiple agreements.

    6. A mention of the agreement or other document (such as a loan-cum-hypothecation arrangement) that gives rise to the disagreement, along with, if feasible, a copy of said agreement or other document.

    7. A brief description of the dispute's facts and circumstances, along with the relief sought and, if feasible, a preliminary estimate of the claim's value.

    8. A summary of any issues that the parties have previously agreed upon regarding the arbitration's conduct or on which the claimant wants to make a proposal.

    9. Any contracts or agreements that give rise to the dispute; 10.10 Any additional relevant documents and information that the claimant deems appropriate.

  13. In addition to the paperwork mentioned above, the claimant must submit any court orders requiring that arbitration proceedings be conducted in accordance with Slaw Rules, together with a copy of those orders.

  14. After a successful registration on the Platform, Slaw will send a Communication to the arbitration parties.

  15. If one of the parties to the Slaw Arbitration Clause files a lawsuit in any court on the same subject matter, the other party may request that the arbitration proceedings proceed in accordance with Slaw Rules, recording any objections to jurisdiction made by the party who filed the lawsuit. If served in a lawsuit, the party wishing to proceed with arbitration under the Slaw Rules must submit the required application or applications to the court in order to establish the Slaw ODR Clause's existence.

  16. If the Claimant does not provide any information or fulfil any of the requirements listed above, the Registrar/Arbitrator may set a deadline of no more than thirty days from the date Slaw received the Letter of Request, after which the Claimant must comply; if not, the claim will be closed, but it will not affect the Claimant's ability to resubmit the same claim in a later Letter of Request.

  17. Slaw reserves the right to refuse the request to administer an arbitration at any point in the future if it is discovered that any of the details or information the claimant submitted for arbitration was false or inaccurate.

  18. Case manager appointment and pre-proceeding call:

    1. A pre-proceeding call will be made by Slaw’s internal calling team or case manager to notify the parties that their dispute has been registered for arbitration. If there are any call recordings, they will be kept, along with an automatically produced transcript.

    2. Slaw will designate a Case Manager within three (3) days of the disagreement being registered on Slaw or after successfully contacting the Respondent or Respondents. Slaw will also notify all parties involved in the dispute of the Case Manager's appointment.

    3. The case manager will make calls as soon as they are appointed to go over the specifics of the Arbitral Tribunal's constitution, the dispute's factual specifics, and the schedule that must be adhered to under the Slaw Rules.

    4. The Arbitral Tribunal's Constitution

      1. Slaw will designate a single arbitrator to form the Arbitral Tribunal in accordance with the procedure outlined below, unless the parties to the arbitration agree differently.

      2. Slaw shall notify the disputing parties that a dispute has been initiated upon receiving a Letter of Request regarding a dispute from the Claimant. The disputing parties shall be granted time, as determined by the Registrar, to mutually select/nominate an arbitrator or to nominate any three arbitrators from Slaw's panel of arbitrators. This time will be specified in the notification.

      3. No one from either side makes a nomination.


      4. The Registrar designates an arbitrator from its panel of arbitrators provisionally if neither contesting party nominates an arbitrator of their choice by the deadline specified in Rule 16.4.1. In compliance with Section with Arbitration Act, the arbitrator provisionally accepts their appointment by issuing a provisional acceptance and disclosure document in relation to the appointment.

      5. The contesting parties have a further period of time, as determined by the Registrar, to object to the nomination of the provisionally appointed arbitrator. The appointment of the arbitrator by Slaw becomes final after a period of time determined by the Registrar, and the arbitrator will proceed with the case and submit their declaration of the Arbitration Act, if neither of the contesting parties objects.

      6. Either side proposes

      7. If one party designates an arbitrator, that arbitrator will be provisionally constituted upon the Registrar's determination of the appropriate time lapse, and the procedures outlined in Rules 16.4.3 and 16.4.4 will be adhered to.

      8. Each Party Designates

      9. If both disputing parties select an arbitrator or arbitrators, the Registrar may, at its discretion, choose to designate any one of the nominated arbitrators as the arbitrator at the lapse of time, subject to the chosen arbitrator's availability and permission. After that, the procedure outlined in Rule 16.4.4 will be adhered to.

  19. Challenge To Arbitrator Appointment

    1. Any party may contest the appointment of an arbitrator if there are reasonable grounds to question the arbitrator's independence or impartiality.

    2. If a party to the dispute learns of a reason to contest the arbitrator's appointment after it has been made, they can do so only if the party or the Registrar nominated the arbitrator.

  20. Methods For Contesting The Selection Of Arbitrator

    1. Any party that plans to contest the arbitrator's appointment must do so no later than three days after the challenging party receives notice of the arbitrator's appointment or as soon as the party becomes aware of the circumstances listed in the Arbitration Act.

    2. Notify the other parties involved in the dispute, the arbitrator who is being challenged, and the Registrar of the challenge. A written notice outlining the grounds for the challenge is required.

    3. Either party may consent to the other's challenge to the arbitrator's appointment. Additionally, the arbitrator has the option to step down from their position after the challenge has been filed. Whatever the situation may be, the Registrar retains the authority to choose a replacement arbitrator in accordance with the procedures outlined in Rule 16.4.4.

    4. Neither of these things indicates that we agree with the challenge's validity. Even if a party fails to exercise their right to appoint or participate in the nomination of the challenged arbitrator, the procedure established in Rule 16.4.4 must be followed to appoint the substitute arbitrator in both situations.

  21. Not Being Able To Take Any Action

    1. If an arbitrator's mandate expires, another arbitrator may be appointed to replace them.

      1. They are officially or practically unable to carry out their duties, or if the appointed arbitrator dies, becomes incapacitated, or otherwise fails to act promptly.

      2. Either they consent to the end of their mandate or they resign from office.

    2. The arbitrator's appointment will be immediately terminated by the Registrar, and the procedure for appointing a replacement arbitrator will be as outlined in Rule 16.4.4.

    3. In the event that an arbitrator is replaced in the aforementioned situations, the arbitral tribunal has the option to reschedule any already held hearings, unless the parties have otherwise agreed.

    4. Unless the parties agree differently, the mere fact that an arbitrator has been replaced under these Slaw Rules shall not render null and void any order or finding of the arbitral tribunal that was issued before the replacement.

  22. A Panel Of Three Arbitrators

    1. In accordance with Rules 16.4.2, each party is required to select one arbitrator from Slaw's Panel of arbitrators if a panel of three is to be established. Afterwards, the two arbitrators will choose a third arbitrator from Slaw's panel.

    2. After three days have passed and no arbitrators have been nominated by any side, the Registrar will select three arbitrators from its pool of candidates as a temporary measure. The arbitrators have temporarily accepted their appointment in accordance with Section 12(1) of the Arbitration Act by issuing a disclosure document and acceptance of appointment in conjunction with the appointment.

    3. The Registrar extends the deadline for the disputing parties to raise objections to the provisionally appointed arbitrator under Rule 20.2 by three days. The appointment of the arbitrator by Slaw will be final after three days if no party objects. The three arbitrators will then proceed with the case and submit their declaration in accordance with Section 12 read with schedules 5, 6, and 7 of the Arbitration Act. Additionally, they will unanimously choose one of them to serve as the presiding arbitrator.

  23. Qualifications For Arbitration

    When nominated or appointed, an arbitrator must meet the standards set forth in the Arbitration Act as they are in effect.

  24. Administrative Assistance Under AD-HOC Arbitration

    Without subjecting the arbitration to the provisions included in the SLaw Rules, parties to a dispute or arbitration agreement may name Slaw as the appointing authority in an ad hoc arbitration. According to the parties' agreement, Slaw may, at its option, serve as the appointing authority and provide the online Platform to facilitate the arbitration processes. If the arbitrator so chooses, it will be in accordance with the Arbitration Act's.

  25. Arbitral Proceedings Will Begin On What Date?

    The date on which the respondent receives a request to refer that issue to arbitration should be considered as the commencement of the arbitration proceedings.

  26. Where The Arbitration Will Take Place

    Regardless of any statement in the arbitration agreement or clause, the arbitral procedures under these rules will be held on the Platform www.Slaw.solutions or any other location that the Tribunal decides upon, subject to prior agreement between the parties, in accordance with the Arbitration Act. Nevertheless, it is stipulated that the location of the arbitration would remain unchanged regardless of the venue change. If the Registrar requests it and the parties and the arbitral tribunal both agree in writing, the arbitral procedures might be held in person at a place that the parties agree upon. The message delivered by the Registrar will outline the procedure and rules of these in-person hearings. After giving it some thought, the Arbitrator/Registrar will inform the parties of the costs associated with an in-person hearing.

  27. Responses From The Parties

    1. The Rules outline the procedure for submitting written statements, unless the Tribunal decides otherwise.

    2. Unless the parties have previously agreed upon the necessary components of those statements, within the time agreed upon or determined by the arbitral tribunal, the party making the claim must state the facts that support their claim, the subjects at issue, and the remedy or relief that they are seeking. The party making the response must state their defence in relation to these particulars.

    3. The parties are free to attach any and all documents they deem pertinent to their statements, or to indicate which documents or other evidence they intend to employ.

    4. If the respondent wants to supplement their case with a counterclaim or set-off, they can do so within the bounds of the arbitration agreement. The arbitral tribunal will then decide on this matter.

    5. Modifications or additions to claims or defences may be made by either party throughout the arbitration process, unless the arbitral tribunal finds it inappropriate to do so due to the delay, or the parties have agreed otherwise.

    6. The Tribunal may provide a deadline for the completion of the claim and defence statements required by this section.

  28. Authority Of The Hearing Body(Tribunal)

    1. The arbitral tribunal has the authority to decide on matters within its purview, such as whether or not the arbitration agreement exists or is legitimate.

      1. A contract's arbitration clause is a separate agreement from the rest of the contract's terms.

      2. The arbitration clause will remain lawful even if the arbitral tribunal rules that the contract is invalid.

    2. Within fifteen days after the tribunal is established, a party may assert that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction.

    3. As soon as an issue purported to be beyond the arbitral tribunal's authority is mentioned during the arbitral procedures, a plea might be made that the tribunal is exceeding its authority.

    4. In both of the aforementioned instances, the arbitral tribunal has the discretion to accept a subsequent plea if it finds the delay to be warranted.

    5. In the event that the arbitral tribunal rejects the aforementioned request, the arbitral procedures will proceed and an arbitral award will be rendered.

    6. If one of the parties is unhappy with the outcome of the arbitration, they can ask the court to vacate the decision.

  29. Interim Support

    1. The Arbitral Tribunal has the authority to grant injunctions or other interim and ad interim relief for the following matters, upon request from a party to the arbitration under the Slaw Rules and as it deems appropriate.

      1. The safeguarding, Interim custody, or disposition of any commodities that constitute the subject of the arbitration agreement.

      2. Guaranteeing the sum at issue in the arbitration.

      3. The holding, preservation, or examination of any property or thing that is at the heart of the arbitration dispute or that may give rise to a question therein; granting permission to enter any party's land or building for the purposes listed above; allowing the taking of samples, observations, or experiments that may be required or expedited to gather complete information or evidence.

      4. A receiver may be appointed, or an interim injunction may be issued.

      5. For the freezing of a party's bank or salary account up to the amount of the claim, as well as the amount that a party to the dispute can collect from a third party up to the claim amount.

      6. Any such temporary safeguards that the arbitral tribunal deems reasonable and practical to preserve the parties' interests.

    2. A review of a ruling made according to Rule 35. the decision to approve or deny an interim measure rests with Slaw’s internal Appellate Arbitral Tribunal. The appealing party has 7 days from the date of the order's dispatch (by post or electronic means) to file their appeal.

    3. The applicant must notify the Arbitral Tribunal, Slaw, and all other parties on the Platform as soon as possible following the creation of the Arbitral Tribunal of any application or order for such interim measure.

  30. Hearings

    1. The parties may agree to use a different method of arbitration if they so want, but under these Rules, document-based arbitration is mandatory.

    2. In order to hear arguments and evidence regarding the merits of the dispute, including any question of jurisdiction, the Tribunal will conduct a hearing at the request of any party and at its discretion.

    3. The parties will be given reasonable notice by the Tribunal, and the Tribunal will decide the date and hour of any meeting or hearing. Any scheduled oral hearings will take place virtually through the use of any video conferencing tool, platform, or website.

    4. The Tribunal may continue with the arbitration and make the Order/Award based on the submissions and evidence presented if any party fails to appear at a meeting or hearing without providing sufficient cause for such omission.

    5. Any recordings, transcripts, or papers utilised in connection with the arbitration processes must be kept secret, and all discussions and hearings must take place in private unless the parties have otherwise agreed.


    6. The arbitrator's hearings will take place on the Platform unless one of the parties to the arbitration requests differently, following the steps outlined in Rule 24.

    7. The Arbitral Tribunal/Registrar shall have final and binding authority to decide on any dispute between the parties concerning the conduct or fees of the offline in-person hearing pertaining to the parties to arbitration proceedings under Slaw Rules.

    8. The arbitration processes will be carried out at the agreed upon location of arbitration if the Arbitral Tribunal chooses to conduct offline in-person hearings.

    Timely Resolution of Disputes via Arbitration.


  31. Immediate Relief

    1. If there is an extreme need for immediate relief, a party might use the Platform to request the appointment of an emergency arbitrator. You have the option to submit this request at the same time as your Letter of Request to Arbitrate or before the Arbitral Tribunal is formed. An emergency arbitration and immediate temporary reliefs must be requested, which must include:

      1. An explanation, in brief, of the events and circumstances that have necessitated emergency assistance, backed by evidence.

      2. Type of relief sought.

      3. The other parties to the arbitration under the Slaw Rules have been notified of the request to appoint an emergency arbitrator.

      4. Either an acknowledgement that the specified payments, as listed in the "Fee Schedule" in Annexure IV, have been paid or a promise to pay them within seven days after the emergency arbitrator is appointed.

    2. A party's non-refundable payment for the Slaw Rules' emergency arbitrator appointment cost is non-transferable.

    3. Within one (1) day of receiving the application or request for the appointment of an emergency arbitrator, Slaw must decide whether or not to approve the request and, if granted, assign an emergency arbitrator from the Panel within one (1) day of the Panel's decision.

    4. The rules governing disclosures and statements, as outlined in the Slaw Rules for all arbitrators, shall be binding on the emergency arbitrator.

    5. The party requesting the appointment of the emergency arbitrator has the right to choose a different location for the hearings, although at least one of the possible options is the Platform. The other party will be asked to decide if they are willing to undertake the offline in-person hearing if the party requesting the appointment of the emergency arbitrator desires it.

    6. The emergency arbitrator designated to hear the case will be final and binding and if the parties cannot agree on how to conduct the offline in-person hearing for emergency relief.

    7. The emergency arbitrator is required to set a date for when the emergency application and interim reliefs will be considered within two (2) days of being appointed. Before granting any urgent, interim, or conservatory measures, the arbitrator must give all parties a fair chance to be heard and provide reasons for their decision.

    8. Within fourteen days of being appointed, the emergency arbitrator must pass the award or render any interim reliefs that they deem appropriate.

    9. The parties to the arbitration under the Slaw Rules or the emergency arbitrator may request an additional ten (10) days of grace from Slaw in extreme circumstances.


    10. Without the consent of all disputing parties, an emergency arbitrator cannot serve on an arbitration tribunal for any subsequent proceedings governed by the Slaw Rules that pertain to the same dispute. Any decision or decree issued by a temporary arbitrator will not be legally enforceable after sixty (60) days from the date it was issued if the arbitration panel is not established in accordance with the Slaw Rules.

  32. Specialist Selected By Arbitral Panel

    1. The Arbitral Tribunal has the authority to select an expert to deliver written reports on predetermined matters after consulting with the parties. It can also request that a party provide the expert with any pertinent material or documents it thinks are necessary.

    2. All parties will have access to the expert's written report once it is uploaded to the same ODR Platform that the Arbitral Tribunal used to appoint them.

    3. The Arbitral Tribunal has the discretion to decide whether or not to let the parties to submit written responses to the reports submitted by the experts, and if so, how and when these responses should be filed.

    4. The Arbitral Tribunal has the discretion to request the attendance of such a witness at any hearing it deems essential, with the exception of document-based arbitration.

  33. Evidence

    1. Except in cases involving documents, evidence in arbitration proceedings conducted under the Slaw Rules shall be based on sworn or self-certified statements, and the Arbitral Tribunal will grant permission for cross-examination only in exceptional cases.

    2. In accordance with the Arbitration Act, the exclusive authority to decide on the admissibility, relevance, substance, and weight of any evidence rests with the Arbitral Tribunal.

    3. The parties are required to submit any evidence, documents, or statements they intend to provide to the Arbitral Tribunal on the Platform within the timeframes specified in the Slaw Rules or as determined by the Arbitral Tribunal.

    4. Specifies the authority of the Arbitral Tribunal to:

      1. Perform whatever investigations that may seem relevant or useful.

      2. Direct any party to provide copies of any documents they have that the Arbitral Tribunal finds pertinent to the matter and that could affect its conclusion, as well as to make such documents available for review to the other parties.

  34. Adjournment

    The Tribunal has discretion to grant adjournments based on the facts and circumstances of each case. The Tribunal's ruling will have final and binding effect.

  35. Default

    In the absence of a mutually agreed upon agreement between the parties, where


    1. If the claimant does not submit their claim statement as instructed, the arbitration panel will end the case.

    2. The arbitral tribunal will proceed with the proceedings even though the respondent did not submit their statement of defence as requested; however, they will not consider this a waiver of the claimant's allegations and will retain the discretion to consider the respondent's right to file a statement of defence as forfeited.

    3. The arbitral tribunal has the authority to proceed with the procedures and render an arbitral award based on the evidence presented, even if a party does not show up for an oral hearing or submit documentary evidence.

  36. The Award

    1. Once the Tribunal has conferred with the parties and is satisfied that they do not have any additional evidence or submissions pertaining to the subjects to be determined in the Award, the proceedings will be declared concluded as soon as feasible.

    2. All parties and the Registrar will be notified of the closing of the proceedings by the Tribunal, who will also ask them to obtain the necessary stamp paper. As soon as the stamp paper is ready, the Tribunal must render the Award.

    3. The Tribunal has the authority to re-open the proceedings at any time prior to making an award, either at its own initiative or at a party's request. The decision to re-open the proceedings will be conveyed to the parties by the Tribunal. In this respect, the Tribunal's decision is final and binding and cannot be challenged.

    4. After the Award is received by the Registrar, certified copies will be sent to the parties with Slaw's seal and signature.

    5. For any amount at issue in the arbitration, the Tribunal has the authority to impose interest, either simple or compound, at rates agreed upon by the parties or, failing that, at rates the Tribunal thinks fit, for any duration it sees fit.

    6. If a settlement is reached, and if both parties agree, the Tribunal can record the settlement in a consent Award. After the parties have confirmed to the Registrar that a settlement has been achieved, the arbitration can be ended and the Tribunal can be discharged if a consent Award is not necessary. The parties will then need to settle the arbitration expenses in full.

    7. If the time period specified in the Act Rule causes the arbitration proceedings to end, any party involved can request Slaw to restart the proceedings and form a new arbitration tribunal according to Slaw Rules, within certain limitations.

    8. The Arbitration Act specifies the procedures to be followed in making the Arbitral Award.

  37. Award Corrections, Award Interpretations And Extra Awards

    1. The provisions of the Act shall govern any revision or alteration to the arbitral award issued by the Tribunal in compliance with these Rules. If a party requests the award's correction after the 30-day limit has passed, the Tribunal may grant a valid excuse for the delay and correct the award after the other party is given due notice. The Tribunal will then issue a reasoned decision approving or rejecting the plea. Once the parties have received the revised or rectified award (if any), the time limit for submitting an execution petition or a petition to vacate the judgement will begin counting down from that date.

    2. In addition to the foregoing, you should be aware that, as these proceedings are being conducted electronically on the Platform and new features are being added all the time to make things easier for everyone involved, it is possible that some errors will be made that will change the course of the proceedings. This is a normal occurrence, but you should also be aware that some errors may be unintended, unwanted, and beyond your control. If a technical, secretarial, computer-generated, or administrative error is discovered or reported to the Neutral after a proceeding has been disposed of, moved to a closed category, or advanced to another stage—even though the error was not part of or related to the legal process—the Neutral has the authority to review, recall the order, or restore the proceedings back to the stage where the mistake occurred—by a written order—in such a situation.

  38. Application For Setting Aside Ruling Or Arbitral Decision

    1. In the event that no petition was filed under Section 34 of the Arbitration Act, or if a petition was filed but rejected at the threshold without proceeding to the merits, the only way to challenge an interim order or arbitral award that has been issued under these Rules is to file an appeal to set aside the order or award.

    2. The internal Appellate Arbitral Tribunal mechanism has the power to vacate an arbitral award or interim order under these Rules, but only if the party seeking to appeal can prove, using the arbitral tribunal's record as evidence, that:

      1. Had some kind of disability.

      2. A party that was subject to an interim order or award did not have a legal representation listed on the record, and the party was already dead when the arbitral proceedings were initiated.

      3. There is no arbitration agreement or arbitration clause.

      4. The subject matter was not arbitrable in nature.

      5. The interim ruling or award cannot be enforced according to legal requirements due to several reasons, including but not limited to: the parties' erroneous addresses, the means of communication, the subject matter specifics, or the submission of material facts in an incorrect manner.

      6. The temporary ruling or judgement was published in a separate arbitration process as a result of a technical oversight.

      7. The applicant was either unable to present his case because he was not provided adequate notice of the arbitrator's appointment or the arbitration proceedings.

      8. The interim award or order was influenced by deceit or a different set of facts presented in the pleadings.

      9. The arbitral award addresses a disagreement that was not intended for or included in the arbitration agreement, or it includes rulings on issues that were not covered by the arbitration agreement:

      The only part of the arbitral award that can be overturned is the portion that includes decisions on subjects that were not submitted to arbitration, assuming that is possible.


    3. Three months must pass from the date of receipt of the arbitral award before an application for setting aside can be lodged If the in-house appellate tribunal determines that the applicant or appellant was unable to submit the application within the three-month period due to valid reasons, or if it is in the interest of justice to administer justice, the tribunal may, at its discretion, excuse the delay.

    4. Any party to the arbitration process, including the Registrar, may submit a written request to the court for review of the decision in accordance with this rule. However, the grounds to file an appeal application are limited to those specifically specified above.

    5. With or without liberty under the Arbitration Act, the in-house appellate arbitral tribunal has the authority to either dismiss the appeal or approve or set aside the impugned ruling or award, all without prejudice to or affecting the parties' rights under the Arbitration Act.

    6. The in-house Appellate Tribunal has the option to allow the opposing party to be heard, but it also has the discretion to decide on the appeal without the other party present if it deems it appropriate and suitable.

    7. Within one month of the appeal date, the application for appeal under this regulation must be promptly resolved.

  39. Termination Of Arbitration Process

    Slaw Rules arbitration procedures will be considered closed per the requirements of the Arbitration Act, Section 32.


  40. Communication

    Each party is required to notify the other parties of any communications sent to the Arbitral Tribunal at the same time, and to provide written confirmation to the Tribunal that this has been or is being done.


  41. Certified Copies

    Following compliance with the applicable legal requirements, the Registrar is authorised to issue a certified copy of all arbitration records and proceedings upon request from the parties or upon request from the appropriate court, under its signature and Slaw’s seal.


  42. Relevant Statutes

    1. Except in cases of international commercial arbitration, the Arbitral Tribunal hearing an arbitration claim must use the substantive law of Pakistan as it is in effect at the time of decision.

    2. Under the Slaw Rules of International Commercial Arbitration:

      1. According to the principles of law that the parties have agreed apply to the dispute's substance, the Arbitral Tribunal will decide on the matter.

      2. If the parties do not specify which laws or legal systems apply, we will assume that they mean the substantive laws of the country in question and not its provisions regarding conflict of laws.

      3. If the parties to the dispute have not designated the law under clause (a) of the Slaw Rules, the Arbitral Tribunal will adopt Pakistan law unless it determines that the rules of law are more appropriate in light of all the circumstances.

      4. If the parties have given the Arbitral Tribunal explicit permission, it can determine without strictly adhering to the legislation that governs the contract or agreement.

      5. The facts of the contract and relevant trade usages shall always be considered by the Arbitral Tribunal when it decides and makes an Award.

  43. Chapter 3: Conciliation


  44. Application And Scope

    1. This Part shall apply to the conciliation of disputes arising out of any legal connection, whether contractual or not, and to any processes connected thereto, unless any law for the time being provides otherwise or the parties have agreed otherwise.

    2. Where certain issues are not subject to conciliation under any law now in force, this Part shall not apply.

  45. Clause For Conciliation

    A conciliation process governed by the Slaw Rules will move forward if


    1. In the event that the parties' agreement has a Slaw Conciliation Clause.

    2. In the event that the disputing parties have previously or subsequent agreed in writing to resolve their disagreement via conciliation.

    3. If the parties are able to come to an agreement on how to resolve their current conflict and bring that agreement to conciliation.

  46. How To Start The Conciliation Process –

    1. After registering with Slaw and providing the following information on the Platform, a disputing party may approach Slaw to initiate mediation proceedings with the other party or parties:

      1. Complete list of conciliation participants' names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses (if applicable), and fax numbers.

      2. A brief summary of the dispute's facts and circumstances, the claims put forth by both parties to the conciliation, detailing the relief sought, any quantified claims' amounts or estimated values, any supporting documents, and any terms of settlement that have already been agreed upon.

      3. A summary of any agreements reached by the parties about the conciliation process.

      4. Any additional papers or information that the party that started the issue thinks is pertinent

    2. By submitting a Letter of Request to Slaw and the conditions, stand, or declaration that the disputing parties have mutually agreed upon, the following can happen:

      1. The Slaw Rules provide for the appointment of a conciliator.

      2. The conciliator is required to follow the Slaw Rules while passing the settlement terms as a Settlement Agreement.

  47. Starting The Conciliation Process –

    1. After the initiating party has successfully registered on the Platform, they or Slaw will notify the other party(ies) through various communication methods of an Invitation to Conciliation, succinctly outlining the nature of the disagreement.

    2. Once the opposite side responds to the invitation to conciliation, the conciliation process can begin.

    3. There will be no conciliation proceedings and the proceedings will be ended according to Slaw Rules if the other party refuses the invitation.

    4. The invitation to conciliation is considered rejected if no response is received within thirty days of its sending (or the specified time in the invitation, whichever is later) and the proceedings will be ended in accordance with Slaw Rules.

  48. Choosing A Case Manager

    1. From Slaw's roster of case managers, the Registrar may choose one to serve as a case manager. The parties will be notified of the appointment of the case manager(s) through various means of communication.

    2. Important dates for submitting individual or joint brief statements to the conciliator, as well as the conciliator's contact information, will be sent to the parties by the case manager through various means of communication.

    3. If the parties have any questions about the Slaw Rules process or need any secretarial or administrative assistance, the case manager is there to help. Also, the Case Manager will verify that all parties' inputs are accurate and authentic.

    4. In accordance with these Rules, case managers are required to keep the Platform updated with all case-related communications.

    5. When necessary, the Registrar has the authority to designate a new case manager and remove the current one.

  49. Number Of Conciliators

    1. Unless all sides agree to more than one, there will be only one conciliator.

    2. As a general rule, when multiple conciliators are present, they should work together.

  50. Selection Of Mediators

    1. Slaw maintains a panel of neutrals who can be appointed as conciliators by the Registrar in conciliation procedures.

    2. The parties will be notified of the appointment of the conciliator(s) through various means of communication.

    3. When necessary, the Registrar has the authority to choose a new conciliator or remove the current one.

  51. Conciliator Statement Submission —

    Upon appointment and throughout the conciliation processes, the conciliator has the authority to request written statements and further information from each party as needed. These documents, if any, should describe the overall disagreement and the issues at stake. Everyone involved, including the conciliator, will have access to the parties' statements once they are posted on the Platform, either as papers or as updates.


  52. The Conciliator Is Not Required To Follow Specific Statutes –

    Neither the Pakistan Evidence Act nor the Code of Civil Procedure bind the conciliator.


  53. The Conciliator's Role —

    1. The conciliator's role is to facilitate the parties' efforts to resolve their disagreement by the use of objective, non-biased assistance.

    2. In exercising their role as mediator, the conciliator must adhere to the highest standards of impartiality and fairness while taking into account all relevant parties' rights and responsibilities, relevant trade practices, the specifics of the dispute at hand, and any prior interactions between the parties.

    3. The conciliator has discretion over how the conciliation proceedings are to be conducted, but he must consider the specifics of the case, the parties' wishes (including the possibility that one of them may ask the conciliator to listen to oral statements), and the urgency of reaching a resolution to the dispute.

    4. Settlement suggestions may be made by the conciliator at any point throughout the conciliation process. Any such suggestions must be submitted in writing and may include an explanation of their rationale.

  54. Administrative Assistance

    With the agreement of the parties or the conciliator, an appropriate institution or individual can be brought in to help with administrative tasks so that the conciliation proceedings can go more smoothly.


  55. Conversations Between The Mediator And The Disputing Parties

    1. The conciliator is required to speak with the parties face-to-face or interact with them in writing via the Slaw Platform or by phone, email, text, or WhatsApp. He has the option of speaking with all parties at once or with each one individually.

    2. In the event that the parties and the conciliator decide to meet face-to-face, the location of the meeting will be decided by the conciliator after discussing the matter with the parties and taking into consideration the specifics of the conciliation process. The conciliator will also issue a ruling about the payment for this meeting.

  56. Disclosure Of Information

    The conciliator is required to inform the other party through a case update on the Platform of any factual information regarding the dispute that he receives in a private conversation with one party. This allows the other party to provide any explanation that they think is appropriate:


    So long as the conciliator is told not to share any information with the opposing party, they will respect the party's request for confidentiality.


  57. Collaboration Between Disputing Parties And Mediator

    Cooperation between the parties and the conciliator is expected in good faith. The parties should make every effort to comply with the conciliator's requests for written papers, proof, and meeting attendance.


  58. Parties' Proposals For Resolving Conflict

    The parties are free to propose potential solutions to the conciliator either voluntarily or in response to an invitation from the conciliator.


  59. Duration Until Conciliation Is Finalised

    Notwithstanding any other laws that may be in effect at the moment, mediation under the Slaw Rules must be finished within forty-five days, or any additional time given by the mediator, starting from the day when the second party gives assent, whichever comes later.


  60. Agreement For Settlement

    1. The conciliator's job is to come up with potential settlement conditions and provide them to the parties for feedback when he thinks there are parts of a deal that could work. Once the parties have submitted their remarks, the conciliator has the option to rethink the conditions of any potential settlement.

    2. When disputing parties are able to come to terms on how to resolve their differences, they have the option to formalise their agreement in writing. The parties may ask the conciliator to draft their settlement agreement or to help them do so if they so want.

    3. The settlement agreement will be final and binding upon the parties and any other parties that may have a claim to it once signed.

    4. The conciliator is responsible for certifying the settlement agreement, signing it, and providing a copy to each party.

    5. If the conciliator is satisfied with the settlement agreement the parties have presented on Platform, or if the Case Manager or internal calling team confirms it, the conciliator may verify its accuracy and authenticity.

  61. Status And Effect Of Settlement Agreement

    In accordance with the Arbitration Act, the settlement agreement will be treated as an arbitral award covering the subject matter of the dispute, with all the rights and consequences that come with it.


  62. Confidentiality

    The conciliator and the parties are required to maintain the confidentiality of any information pertaining to the conciliation processes, regardless of any other laws that may be in effect at the same time. Except in cases where disclosure is required for implementation or enforcement, the settlement agreement is similarly subject to confidentiality.


  63. Closure Of The Conciliation Process

    The conciliation proceedings shall be terminated


    1. When both parties have signed the settlement agreement on the agreed upon date

    2. Upon the conciliator's written statement, following consultation with the parties, or upon the party or parties' statement to the conciliator, to the effect that additional attempts at conciliation are no longer warranted.

    3. Without a conciliator being selected and a valid reason to proceed with the conciliation processes, the Registrar is required to announce the end of the proceedings through a system message, without providing an explanation.

    4. The proceedings will continue in accordance with the dispute resolution clause, if applicable, if the conciliation proceedings are not justified to continue.

    5. If the parties have agreed to proceed in arbitration with Slaw during the conciliation proceedings, the case will be handled pursuant to Slaw Rules. If the parties have decided that the conciliation proceedings should end, the proceedings will be ended.
      The reason for the non-settlement or anything else pertaining to their actions during mediation should not be revealed in the declaration or report mentioned in this section.

  64. Resort To Arbotral Or Judicial Proceedings

    No party may, during conciliation, commence any arbitration or court action pertaining to the dispute at issue in the proceedings; however, a party may, in its discretion, commence such action if it believes it is essential to protect its rights.


  65. Role Of Conciliator In Other Proceedings

    1. Unless both parties had previously agreed –

      1. In relation to the dispute at hand, the conciliator is not to serve as an arbitrator, represent a party in any judicial or arbitral process, or function as counsel for any party.

      2. Neither party may call the conciliator as a witness in any court or arbitration case.

  66. Validity Of Evidence Presented In Different Proceedings

    It doesn't matter if the arbitral or judicial proceedings are related to the issue at hand; the parties cannot use or present such evidence as evidence in conciliation proceedings.


    1. Opinions spoken or recommendations offered by the opposing side regarding potential resolutions to the conflict;

    2. Statements the opposing side has made while conciliation is underway;

    3. The conciliator's suggestions.

    4. It's worth noting that the opposite side has already shown a readiness to accept the conciliator's recommended solution.

  67. Chap. IV: Guidelines for Mediation


  68. Mediation Agreement

    1. Any disagreements that have arisen or may arise between the parties, or anybody claiming through them, can be resolved through mediation if a written agreement is reached.

    2. A mediation agreement may be in the form of a mediation clause in a contract, including a Slaw dispute resolution/mediation clause, or in the form of a separate agreement.

    3. If the following conditions are met, then the mediation agreement is considered to be in writing:

      1. Any Document that the parties have both signed.

      2. A correspondence, including that which is electronic in accordance with the provisions of the Information Technology Act;when one party alleges, without denying, the existence of a mediation agreement in a lawsuit or other procedure.

      3. If the agreement is in writing and the reference is such that it makes the mediation provision part of the agreement, then any agreement with a mediation clause is considered a mediation agreement.

      4. Any disagreement between the parties to an agreement, whether made before or after the conflict has arisen, may be resolved by agreeing to submit it to mediation.

      5. When discussing international mediation, the term "mediation agreement" will be used to describe a deal to settle business disputes.

  69. Mediation Before A Litigation

    1. Regardless of whether a mediation agreement is in place or not, parties can choose to resolve their disputes through pre-litigation mediation before bringing a civil or commercial case to court. This can be done voluntarily and with mutual consent, following the guidelines laid out in the Mediation Act. Slaw will then be responsible for conducting the mediation.

    2. Pre-litigation mediation involving commercial disputes with a Specified Value shall be conducted in compliance with such provisions.

  70. Cases That Are Not Fit For Mediation

    1. No problem or dispute included in the following list may be resolved through mediation under the Mediation Act and Slaw Rules.

      1. Some disputes cannot be filed for mediation due to laws that are currently in effect.

      2. Claims involving minors, people with intellectual disabilities, people with mental illness, people who are not of sound mind and lawsuits for declaration of title against the government, including declarations having the effect of a right in rem.

      3. Disputes Involving prosecution for criminal charges.

      4. The following types of complaints or proceedings can be brought before any statutory authority or body: those pertaining to the registration, discipline, or misconduct of any practitioner or registered professional (e.g., a lawyer, dentist, architect, chartered accountant, or member of any other profession governed by any law).

      5. Except in cases involving children's interests in marriage, mediation cannot address problems that impact the rights of any party not directly participating in the proceedings.

      6. Any disagreement over the imposition, withholding, fines, or violations of any tax, whether direct or indirect, or refunds, as established by any state legislature or the Parliament.

      7. Any inquiry, investigation, or proceeding under the Competition Act, including those before the Director General, under the Act; any proceedings before the Telecom Regulatory Authority of Pakistan, under the Telecom Regulatory Authority Act, or the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal.

      8. Adverse proceedings before relevant Commissions and the Electricity Appellate Tribunal.

      9. Processes pending before the PNG Regulatory Board and subsequent appeals to the Appellate Tribunal.

      10. Subject to the Securities Appellate Tribunal and the Securities and Exchange Board, proceedings are to be conducted in accordance with this act.

      11. Purchase of property and calculation of remuneration in accordance with statutes pertaining to such purchases, or any statute establishing such purchases.

      12. Or any other contentious issue that the federal government may announce. Except as otherwise provided in this provision, any court may, in its discretion, refer to Slaw for mediation any matter involving compoundable offences, including matrimonial offences, that are pending between the parties The outcome of the mediation will not be considered a court judgement or decree as stated in the Mediation Act. Instead, the court will consider the current law.

  71. Numbers Of Mediators

    1. If the parties do not agree on the number of mediators, then one will be appointed.

    2. In cases where multiple mediators are involved, it is expected that they will work together.

  72. Appointment Of Mediators

    1. According to the Slaw Rules, the Registrar is responsible for selecting a mediator or mediators from the Slaw panel of impartial parties.

    2. The parties will be notified of the mediator(s)' appointment through various means of communication.

    3. In appropriate instances, the Registrar has the authority to appoint a new mediator either on his own initiative or in response to a request from one of the parties involved in the proceedings.

  73. The Mediator's Disclosure

    1. To avoid any appearance of bias or conflict of interest, the mediator must inform the parties in writing of any current or prospective personal, professional, financial, or other situation that could affect their independence or impartiality before mediation begins.

    2. If a mediator's conflict of interest—as defined in these Rules—arises during mediation or becomes apparent to them, they must notify the parties in writing without undue delay.

    3. If all parties choose to waive their objections in writing after disclosure under these Rules, it will be considered as their approval.

  74. Methods For Commencing A Mediation Session

    1. After registering with Slaw and providing the following information on the Platform, a disputing party may approach Slaw to initiate mediation proceedings with the other party or parties

      1. Full name(s), complete address(es), email(s), and phone(s) of all parties involved in the mediation process.

      2. A brief statement outlining the dispute's nature and circumstances, the claims put forth by both parties, and the relief sought during mediation, including any quantified claims' amounts or estimates of value, any other claims' supporting documents, and any previously agreed terms of settlement, if any.

      3. A rundown of the mediation's procedures, including any agreements reached between the parties in advance.

      4. Any additional Documents or information that the party that started the issue thinks is pertinent.

    2. When disputing parties submit a joint request to Slaw through a letter of request and include the conditions, stand, or statement that they have mutually agreed upon, Slaw will:

      1. The Slaw Rules provide for the appointment of a mediator, and

      2. In line with Slaw Rules, the mediator shall pass such settlement terms as a a settlement agreement.

  75. Commencement Of Mediation Proceeding.

    1. After the initiating party has successfully registered on the Platform, they or Slaw will notify the other party(ies) through different communication channels that an Invitation to Mediation has been sent, providing a brief description of the dispute's subject.

    2. The mediation process will begin after the opposite side responds to the invitation to mediate.

    3. If the other side declines, the mediation will not proceed, and the case will be closed in accordance with Slaw Rules.

    4. The invitation to mediate may be deemed rejected and the proceedings terminated in accordance with Slaw Rules if no response is received within thirty days of its sending (or within the time specified in the invitation, whichever is later).

  76. Appointment A Case Manager

    1. From Slaw's roster of case managers, the Registrar may choose one to serve as a case manager. The parties will be notified of the appointment of the case manager(s) through various means of communication.

    2. The case manager is responsible for communicating with the parties via various channels to provide them with vital information, such as the mediator's contact details and due dates for the parties' individual or combined brief statements.

    3. If the parties have any questions about the Slaw Rules process or need any secretarial or administrative assistance, the case manager is there to help. Also, the Case Manager will verify that all parties' inputs are accurate and authentic.

    4. In accordance with the aforementioned Rules, case managers are required to record all case-related communications and post them on the platform.

    5. When necessary, the Registrar has the authority to designate a new case manager and remove the current one.

  77. Mediator Statement Submission.

    1. Both before and during mediation, the mediator may ask the parties to provide written statements and more material that they think is necessary, as well as any papers that explain the dispute and its main points. All parties and the mediator will have access to the parties' statements once they are uploaded to the Platform, either as documents or as updates.

  78. The Mediator Is Not Need To Follow Specific Laws.

    It do not bind the mediator some specific laws.


  79. The Mediator's Role

    1. In order to help the parties resolve their conflict in a mutually agreeable way, the mediator will act independently and impartially.

    2. Following the tenets of impartiality, equity, and justice, the mediator will take into account, among other things, the parties' respective rights and responsibilities, the relevant trade customs, the facts of the case at hand, and the parties' prior dealings with one another.

    3. Considering the specifics of the case, the parties' desires (including the possibility that one may ask the mediator to listen to oral statements), and the urgency of reaching a resolution, the mediator is free to conduct the mediation proceedings in whichever way he thinks fit

    4. At any point throughout the mediation process, the mediator is free to offer suggestions for how the parties may reach an agreement. Any such suggestions must be submitted in writing and may include an explanation of their rationale.

    5. The mediator's role is to help the parties reach a voluntary resolution to their dispute as quickly as possible by communicating their respective perspectives, helping them understand each other better, setting priorities, finding areas of settlement, and coming up with options. It is ultimately up to the parties to decide on their own claims, but the mediator can only do so much.

    6. The mediator is not to impose a settlement on the parties or guarantee that they will reach one during mediation; rather, he is to assist them in reaching a resolution to resolve the issue.

  80. Role Of Meidator In Other Proceedings

    The mediator is not required to—


    1. Facilitate resolution of disputes through mediation or arbitration, or represent a party in a legal action involving the disagreement at the heart of the mediation.

    2. May be called upon by any party to testify as a witness in court or arbitration.

  81. Disclosure Of Information.

    1. The mediator is required to inform the other party through a case update on the Platform of any factual information regarding the dispute that he receives in a private conversation with one party. This allows the other party to provide any explanation that they think is appropriate
      The mediator is bound to keep secret any information disclosed to them by one party to the dispute unless both parties explicitly instruct them to do so.

  82. Finishing Date Of Mediation.

    1. Notwithstanding any other laws that may be in effect at the moment, mediation under the Slaw Rules must be finished within forty-five days, or any additional time given by the mediator, starting from the day when the second party gives assent, whichever comes later.

  83. Agreement Reached Through Mediation

    1. An agreement in writing between all or part of the parties that settles some or all of their problems through mediation and is authenticated by the mediator is called a mediated settlement agreement
      The conditions of the settlement agreement may, however, cover matters unrelated to the original conflicts that prompted mediation.

    2. If the parties are able to resolve some or all of their disagreements through mediation, they must put their agreement in writing and have each party sign it.

    3. Following the procedures outlined in the Mediation Act, the parties are required to submit the mediated settlement agreement signed under the Slaw Rules to the mediator. Once the mediator has authenticated it, they will send it to the Registrar along with a covering letter that they have both signed. Additionally, they will provide each party with a copy of the agreement.

  84. Mediation Settlement Agreement Registration –

    1. For the sake of documentation, any settlement agreement reached through mediation (aside from those reached through court or tribunal-referred mediation can be registered with an Authority established under the aforementioned Act or any other body that the Central Government notifies, in the manner specified. The registrant will then assign a unique registration number to the settlement agreement.
      It is possible to register the mediated settlement agreement under this Rule with the relevant authority or entity located within the geographical jurisdiction of the court or tribunal that has the authority to decide on the dispute's subject matter.
      Explanation—To clear up any confusion, the rights of the parties to enforce or contest the mediated settlement agreement under Mediation Act, respectively, are unaffected by this sub-section.

    2. For record-keeping and further action, the mediator must submit a written non-settlement report and upload it on the Platform if the parties are unable to reach an agreement within the time frame specified in these Rules or if the mediator believes that no settlement is possible.
      The report mentioned in this part should not reveal anything about their actions during mediation or the reason for the non-settlement.

  85. Disclosure Privilege And Admissibility

    No one involved in the mediation process, including the mediator, experts, advisers, case managers, and the Registrar of Slaw, will ever be allowed or forced to reveal anything from any conversation that took place during mediation to a court, tribunal, or adjudicatory proceeding, regardless of the form the disclosure takes. This includes the parties' actions and documents, as well as any information they may have learnt about during negotiations, offers, or counteroffers.
    Neither this Rule nor the Mediation Act shall shield information that is requested or supplied in order to establish or refute a claim or complaint of malpractice based on actions taken by the mediator during the mediation.


  86. Termination Of Mediation Proceedings

    The mediation proceedings shall be terminated.


    1. When both parties have signed the settlement agreement on the agreed upon date; or

    2. After discussing the matter with both parties, the mediator may formally declare in writing that further mediation efforts are unnecessary, or the parties themselves may make such a declaration to the mediator.

    3. If a mediator cannot be found and the mediation cannot be continued, the Registrar may announce the end of the proceedings through a system message, but they need not provide a reason.

    4. The procedures will continue in accordance with the dispute resolution clause, if applicable, if the mediation proceedings are not justified to continue.

    5. If there is no justification to continue with the mediation processes, they will be discontinued. If, during the mediation, the parties agree to proceed with arbitration with Slaw, then the matter will be arbitrated pursuant to Slaw's rules.

    6. With the passing of the deadline set forth in these Rules.

  87. Mediation Settlement Agreement Enforcement

    1. The parties and any third parties with a claim against them must sign and the mediator must authenticate the final settlement agreement before it may be enforced in accordance with the Mediation Act.

    2. Anyone involved in the case, or anyone claiming through them, can use the mediated settlement agreement as a defence, setoff, or other legal basis in any legal proceeding. It will be enforced according to the Code of Civil Procedure, just like a court judgement or decree. Mediation Act ensures this.

  88. If the Registrar determines that the following measures are required to overcome an obstacle to the implementation of these Rules—provisions that are not in conflict with the Slaw Rules—it may issue an order implementing

  89. Section V: Other Requirements


  90. Registrar -Responsibility And Authority To Rectify Issues And Faults

    1. The Registrar is responsible for the timely, efficient, accurate, and comfortable administration of all proceedings that are to be held online or electronically on the Platform. They are also obligated to carry out any other tasks that may be assigned to them.

    2. For the proceedings to proceed as planned, the Registrar can inspect and audit the Platform, case management system, secretarial work, and timely compliance with the Neutrals' directions as needed or as they see fit. This will ensure that the proceedings run smoothly.

    3. In the event that the Registrar discovers or is informed of any administrative, technical, computer-generated, or secretarial error during the course of the inspection or audit, regardless of its relevance to the legal process of the proceeding, and that this error causes the proceeding to be closed or moved to a different stage, the Registrar has the authority to remove, solve, or reverse the error in question, either independently or in response to a report

      1. If the error or mistake happened before the proceedings started, the Registrar can fix it by writing an order to remove it and resume the proceedings from where they were.

      2. The Registrar has the authority to rectify any error or mistake that may have occurred during the proceedings by issuing a written order. This order must be followed in order to return the proceedings to their original state.

      3. Any Registrar order issued pursuant to Rule 85.3.1. and 85.3.2 will set the proceedings back to where they were before the mistake or error happened.

      4. The Registrar is required to provide the relevant facts to the Neutral in writing if they deem it acceptable. The Neutral, in their discretion, may issue a suitable order like a review, recall, or appeal.

  91. Protection Against Any Act Done In Good Faith.

    1. Anyone acting in good faith in accordance with the Slaw Rules, including the arbitrator, conciliator, mediator, Case Manager, Registrar, Slaw, or any of its officers, employees, directors, or agents, may not be sued or otherwise subjected to legal action.

    2. The parties involved in any process to vacate the Order, Award, Settlement Agreement, or Mediation Agreement must not include Slaw, the arbitrator, mediator, conciliator, Registrar, Case Manager, or any of Slaw's officers, employees, directors, or agents.

  92. Data And Record Keeping By Slaw

    1. In order to ensure that no one can determine who the parties are or what the nature of the dispute is, Slaw must store all relevant information on proceedings conducted under Slaw Rules in a way that cannot be traced back to any particular individual.

    2. For all proceedings under Slaw Rules, Slaw shall keep the data for [four] years starting from the date of the Order, Award, Settlement Agreement, or Mediation Agreement unless otherwise agreed upon by Slaw and any party to the case.

  93. Appeal Or Application

    If an appeal or application is made to set aside an Order, Award, Settlement Agreement, or Mediation Agreement, the party making the appeal or application must inform Slaw immediately, and until the proceedings are concluded, Slaw must keep all relevant data and records, unless any party to the proceeding and Slaw agree otherwise under Slaw Rules.


  94. Date Will Be Deleted After Time Limit

    After the time limit provided in these rules has passed, Slaw may delete all data and records related to any procedures under Slaw Rules.


  95. Confidentiality

    1. Unless legally compelled to do so, Slaw, the Registrar, neutrals, and the parties involved in any proceedings conducted under Slaw Rules are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of all information pertaining to such proceedings, including the Award, Conciliation Agreement, or Mediation Agreement (if applicable).

    2. Confidentiality laws, particularly, must be followed by Slaw, the Registrar, Neutrals, and all parties involved in procedures conducted under Slaw Rules.

  96. Keeping An Eye On Proceedings

    1. To prevent unjustified extensions of deadlines imposed by Slaw Rules, the Registrar may review and assess case files on the Platform and procedures under Slaw Rules at regular intervals.

  97. Exclusion Of Liability

    1. No action shall be taken against the Registrar, neutrals, case managers, vendors, agent, or employee under Slaw Rules or any other law while they are exercising their duties and rights in good faith, and all parties to proceedings under Slaw Rules hereby jointly and severally exempt Slaw from any liability that may arise from them.

  98. Language

    1. Unless the parties otherwise agree, all procedures conducted under the Slaw Rules will be conducted in English or Urdu. Additionally, a Case Manager fluent in the selected language will be assigned to help the parties in the event that either Party or Neutral cannot communicate in English or the requested language.

    2. In the event that either party to a Slaw Rules hearing requests that the proceedings be held in a language other than English or Urdu , Slaw has the only authority to choose the language of the proceeding.

    3. Any party submitting a document that does not contain English or Urdu as its native language must also provide an English translation of the document at the same time.

  99. Getting A Verified Copy

    1. Contact Slaw.solutions or the Registrar with a request for a verified copy of the Order, Award, Mediation Agreement, Settlement Agreement, or proceedings (due to a court order or otherwise) if you or any other party involved in a Slaw Rules proceeding needs one. A fee, as determined periodically, will be required.

    2. A certified copy of these Rules may be sent by the Registrar to any other person affected by the proceedings conducted on the Platform, even if they are not a party to those proceedings, subject to prior sanction.

  100. Amendment To Slaw Rules

    Slaw reserves the exclusive authority to modify the Slaw Rules, its schedules, fees, and any other relevant provisions as it sees suitable.


  101. Working Hours

    The parties may upload their Pleadings on the Platform at any time, as prescribed under Slaw Rules by the Registrar or the neutrals.


  102. Notices

    1. Any notification, communication, or proposal must be sent electronically or through a postal service or courier in order to be valid under the Slaw Rules. Any of the following electronic communication means/modalities are available for use with Slaw:

      1. At the party's most recent registered phone number, email address, home address, or business address, as provided in the agreement or other correspondence between the parties;

    2. The following conditions must be met before the service or delivery of electronic communications is deemed successful:

      1. The email has not been "bounced back.

      2. No failure of delivery notification has been received by the SMS.

      3. No failure of delivery notification has been received by the message sent using an instant messaging program, such as WhatsApp, etc.

    3. When one of the parties is not currently signed into the Platform, the Case Manager will contact them via the phone number they gave when they joined to let them know that the Slaw Rules proceedings have begun. The service will be considered finished when the case manager makes this phone call if:

      1. The party has been contacted and all relevant information has been communicated with them; if she has not disputed being involved in the disagreement during the call; or

      2. Once the recipient has declined the call.

    4. During any proceedings under Slaw Rules, the parties or their authorised agents must communicate and exchange documents over the Platform or as per postal service/courier.

    5. If one party has communicated with the Case Manager via email, WhatsApp, or text message about the case and wants the other party to be able to see it, they can ask the Case Manager to upload the document to the 'Case Update' section of the platform. The Registrar or neutral can decide whether or not to consider the document uploaded, but it's up to them.

    6. It is important to note that the Case Manager will only publish communications once they have confirmed receipt from the parties' registered or verified email or mobile number

  103. Waiver Of The Right To Object

    1. If a party knows that any rule or provision of the Slaw Rules has not been followed but does not object in writing, they are considered to have waived their right to object and the proceedings can proceed under the Slaw Rules anyhow.

  104. What If Slaw Is Dissolved

    1. In the event that Slaw is dissolved (for whatever reason), the Official Liquidator or assignee takes over, or any entity is named as a successor by an order of the relevant tribunal or court, the parties are free to select a different institution to mediate their dispute.

  105. The Slaw Platform

    1. Slaw will take care of all the administrative tasks related to the Platform and the proceedings outlined in these Rules. This includes sending notices, filing cases, appointing neutrals, uploading documents, communicating electronically, building settlements and awards, e-signing and e-stamping, and any other services needed until the Order, Award, Settlement Agreement, or Mediation Settlement Agreement is passed or the proceedings are terminated.

    2. The parties involved in any Slaw Rules proceedings are required to register on the Platform using the form and in the way that is specified on the Platform.

  106. Jurisdiction

    1. Before the Neutral is appointed, any party may first bring an objection to Slaw's existence or capacity to administer the dispute settlement process before the Registrar.

    2. No further action will be taken to resolve the disagreement if the Registrar upholds the objection

  107. Exemption From Legal Proceedings For Good Faith Acts

    Any action done or intended to be done in good faith under this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder shall not be subject to suit, prosecution, or other legal proceeding against the Central Government, a State Government, any officer of such Government, a Member or Officer or employee of the Council, an arbitrator, conciliator, or mediator, Case Managers, Slaw, or its employees.


  108. Reach Out To Us

    Feel free to email us at Slaw. Solutions with any enquiries, complaints, or requests pertaining to this Privacy Policy.