Majeed works in the area of Human Rights Law as a lecturer in the International Law Department at a Law School in Pakistan. He is also the QMUL Chevening Chapter Leader for Pakistan.
I came to London, accompanied by my better half Atikah Lashari, in August 2016 on a Chevening Scholarship. Queen Mary is ranked number one in Law (The Guardian) and offered a plethora of specialisms to choose from, more than the other universities where I had been offered a place. I chose Public International Law (PIL) as it encompasses my learning strengths and interests. PIL is based on legally governing state relationships and world affairs/conflicts within the ambit of the UN Charter. As a discipline, it is the pinnacle of man-made macro laws and political efforts in resolving macro world issues.
Furthermore, studying at Queen Mary was most practical. The specialised Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS) located at Holborn gives Queen Mary is a perfect location in central London. My housing was at Leinster Gardens (W26DP) with Queensway and Bayswater stations at arms-length on my high street, hence I could take the tube without switch overs even when I had to attend classes at the Mile End Campus. My university commute was straightforward and convenient and Hyde Park, Oxford Street, and W1 were all on our doorstep and within walking distance. Atikah and I explored the magnificence of life in central London as a young married couple and made memories that will last us a lifetime. This impeccable location factor makes studying at Queen Mary doubly attractive to Londoners.
The entirety of my experience at Queen Mary was special. Obtaining official permission with the help of Igor Gavran (International Business LLM, 2016), whereby Atikah was exceptionally allowed to attend QMSU’s 2017 Course Representative Education Awards held in the dazzling Drapers Hall in Central London was certainly very memorable. I was showered with accolades and praise that night and got to share the moment with my wife. On the other end of the spectrum, Queen Mary’s friends got together for a last farewell party at Mile End’s Drapers. That night was the most fun I remember having inside the university campus, exclusively with friends from the LLM batch. Even the journey back to Queensway with my best friend from Queen Mary, neighbour and fellow Londoner Nafsika Vasileiadou (Public International Law LLM, 2017) was eventful and full of laughter.
Absolutely! Clarity of thought towards one’s goals is imperative. The degree was advantageous in cementing certain aspects of my career and work. I wanted to further establish myself as an educationist and columnist. The completion of my studies has enabled me to head the International Law Department at Pakistan’s most prestigious and well-known Law School - TILS (The Institute of Legal Studies – an affiliate of the University of London International LLB Programme). Since I returned to Pakistan after my LLM, my opinion and analysis pieces have been regularly published in leading Pakistani English newspapers like The Nation, Daily Times, and Express Tribune etc.
The learning environment at Queen Mary was a treat due to the diversity of students in the classroom. Multiculturalism and pluralism were cornerstones to discussion, enhancement of thought and critique in the classroom, especially the International Criminal Law and pure Public International Law (use of force) classes that were taught by Professor Phoebe Okowa. She steered the discourse in such a manner that we all argued and learnt as friends and not foes.
I work as a Lecturer for International Law. I also teach public (constitutional) law at TILS. So, apart from the three hours I take out on Tuesdays and Thursdays to fulfil my passion for lecturing, you can either find me arguing a case in court or at the Firm’s office from 8am till 5pm Monday to Saturday. I also take up pro-bono human rights cases and use my network to further the causes and the voices of the downtrodden (as much as I possibly can) via the media. Writing is a form of expression; issues are uncountable in my beloved country and a problem solver needs an outlet to discuss ideas and solutions, therefore my work ethic entails researching for and jotting down articles in the evenings.
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