TMU CSR Institute zoom session: Courtroom Victory for Mining-Affected Pakistan Communities - In Conversation with Plaintiff Lawyer Hashim Jadoon

Lawyer Hashim Jadoon lives in the Pakistan village of Ghumawan with his extended family, who, as has been recently reported are "...mostly underprivileged and unaware of their constitutional rights....and... unaware of the royalties that mine operators owe them for running quarries on communal lands." Jadoon was concerned about the toxic dust emanating from the limstone quarries and associated crushing process. "They're developing health problems while the leaseholders, or miners derive all the financial benefits," Jadoon is reported as saying.

In 2022 Jadoon began his legal actions on behalf of the community, starting with Environmental Protection Trubunal proceedings leading to an injunction against the leaseholder, who was operating about a dozen crushers. The leaseholder appealed to the High Court, who in a ruling released this year ordered the closure of close to 900 "crush plants" across the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The court also summoned the Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency to appear before it in person.

While undoubtedly a precedent-setting victory for the health and the environment of countless communities in Pakistan, the High Court decision also had the effect of marking Jadoon as an environmental and human rights defender. Being a defender is recognized by many as a badge of honour and courage, but it is unfortunately also associated with vulnerability to reprisals. According to Global Witness (external link) , there were 146 documented cases of defenders killed or "disappeared" in 2024. In Jadoon's case, the High Court itself is reported as expressing concerning for his welfare: "You should take care of yourself. It seems like you're taking on this entire mining mafia".

Although the setting in this particular situation is Pakistan, variations on this "community-company" interaction play out regularly around the world, with varying outcomes. Are there solutions, such as Impact and Benefit Agreements (IBAs), that could decrease the likelihood of escalation taking place, or prevent opposition entirely? Or are IBAs themselves problematic? What about legislated IBAs? Can courts, government agencies and laws be relied on? What happens if there is corruption, and the rule of law is weak? How can environmental and human rights defenders be protected? Questions such as these will be explored in this zoom session.

About the Speaker

Hashim Jadoon grew up in Canada, obtaining a Bachelor of Commerce (Law Major) in 2016 from the Toronto Metropolitan University's Ted Rogers School of Management. Jadoon then earned a law degree from the University of London (affiliate campus) in 2018. Returning to Pakistan, Jadoon has become an expert in the country's environemtnal and mining laws.

In a November 28, 2025 article, Jadoon indicated "I want to study IBAs in detail and bring a solution through legislative change. The current dilemma is that although the law exists, its implementation is weak. The only deterrent against these miners is me -- and that is a problem. The deterrent shouldn't be one individual, it should be the law."

About the Moderator

Dr. Kernaghan Webb

Dr. Kernaghan Webb holds Bachelor's, Masters and Doctorate degrees in law, and is an Associate Professor in the Toronto Metropolitan University Department of Law and Business. He is also the Founding Director of the TMU Institute for the Study of Corporate Social Responsibility. Prof. Webb's extensive law and regulation research and publications have among other things been cited and quoted  (external link) by the Supreme Court of Canada. Dr. Webb has also been employed by or advised governments and inter-governmental bodies, and he has been on the board of directors or otherwise assisted private sector, civil society organizations on regulatory matters. Professor Webb was appointed Special Advisor to the UN Global Compact regarding the development of the ISO 26000 social responsibility standard, he has played leadership roles in the development of international and national social and economic standards, and received international and national recognition for his leadership.

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