ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top diplomat at the United Nations criticized Israel for undermining the global legal order on Friday, saying that countries weakening international norms are often at the forefront of demanding that other states uphold the rules-based system.

Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, made this observation while delivering a statement at the Sixth Committee of the world body. The committee handles international legal issues, serving as a forum where member states can discuss and work on questions related to international law. In essence, it is the UN's body responsible for ensuring that legal frameworks are robust and aligned with contemporary challenges.

“Today, we are witnessing before our eyes the destruction of the rule of law at the international level, especially in the genocidal war which Israel has imposed on the people of Palestine and the Middle East,” Akram said while addressing the forum, as reported by the state-owned Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) news agency.

He noted that the world was witnessing similar trends, such as violations of international humanitarian law, the dismantling of arms control and disarmament treaties, violence against religious and ethnic minorities and targeted assassinations in third countries.

“Yet, some countries complicit in this erosion of international law continue to advocate adherence to this rule of law, but only as they interpret and apply it,” he added.

The Pakistani diplomat highlighted the urgent need to clarify the idea of rule of law in international governance, emphasizing the critical relationship between national and international law and the necessity of ensuring that existing laws are properly observed and applied.

Additionally, he expressed concerns about selective interpretation and the imposition of restrictive norms developed by non-inclusive forums, without the consent of all UN member states.

He said these norms, such as arms control regimes, should not be imposed globally without universal participation. He also stressed that international law must be adopted through inclusive platforms, giving all nations equal footing.

Akram also called for a clearer distinction between national obligations and international law, reaffirming that no state should impose its national laws on others through coercive measures, which, he added, constituted a violation of the international rule of law.

The Pakistani envoy urged the committee to task the International Law Commission with clarifying the concept of the rule of law and suggested seeking an advisory opinion on the issue from the International Court of Justice.