International Women’s Day: Govt, society urged to give due status to women
PESHAWAR, March 8: Speakers at a function have expressed concern over problems being faced by women and urged both the government and public to give due status to the womenfolk so that they could play their active role in development of the society and country.
The function was jointly organised by Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD), Action Aid, Blue Veins and Hawa Lor at Peshawar Press Club on Friday to mark the Intentional Women’s Day.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain was chief guest at the event, while MPA Shagufta Malik participated as guest of honour.
The information minister said that protection of human rights was part of the Awami National Party’s agenda and it did not differentiate on the basis of sex, race, etc. He said that the ‘child marriage restraint bill’ was opposed by the ANP in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly because of the social, cultural and religious challenges of interpretation associated with it and these must be addressed before such legislation was brought to the assembly. He said that the NGOs should work for social change so that evils like child marriages could be stopped.
CRSD executive director Idrees Kamal said that the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 during International Women’s Year 1975.
Ms Farida Iqbal of Blue Veins said that the new millennium had witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation.
However, she said that the unfortunate fact was that women at work were still not paid like their male counterparts and they were still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. She said that globally women had been lagging far behind their male counterparts in getting health and education facilities. However, she said that great improvements had been made over time.
Aliya Rasheed of Action Aid said that the women should continue to aggressively pursue the skills, education and build capacity to contribute to the country’s progress and make it competitive in the world.
Shagufta Malik said that the provincial government had tried its best to provide opportunities to women in different fields. She said that Pakistan always had a decent level of female participation, with women elected to national parliament and high government positions.
Ms Khursheed Bano of Hawa Lor said that more work was needed on pro-women legislation, while the CSOs, political parties and other segments of society should give priority to implementing women-related legislation.
Qamar Naseem appreciated the pro-human rights approach of the provincial and federal governments, saying they had so far done remarkable legislations.
He said that the NGOs would keep pushing for child rights amendment bill.
International Women’s Day: Govt, society urged to give due status to women
PESHAWAR, March 8: Speakers at a function have expressed concern over problems being faced by women and urged both the government and public to give due status to the womenfolk so that they could play their active role in development of the society and country.
The function was jointly organised by Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD), Action Aid, Blue Veins and Hawa Lor at Peshawar Press Club on Friday to mark the Intentional Women’s Day.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain was chief guest at the event, while MPA Shagufta Malik participated as guest of honour.
The information minister said that protection of human rights was part of the Awami National Party’s agenda and it did not differentiate on the basis of sex, race, etc. He said that the ‘child marriage restraint bill’ was opposed by the ANP in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly because of the social, cultural and religious challenges of interpretation associated with it and these must be addressed before such legislation was brought to the assembly. He said that the NGOs should work for social change so that evils like child marriages could be stopped.
CRSD executive director Idrees Kamal said that the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8 during International Women’s Year 1975.
Ms Farida Iqbal of Blue Veins said that the new millennium had witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation.
However, she said that the unfortunate fact was that women at work were still not paid like their male counterparts and they were still not present in equal numbers in business or politics. She said that globally women had been lagging far behind their male counterparts in getting health and education facilities. However, she said that great improvements had been made over time.
Aliya Rasheed of Action Aid said that the women should continue to aggressively pursue the skills, education and build capacity to contribute to the country’s progress and make it competitive in the world.
Shagufta Malik said that the provincial government had tried its best to provide opportunities to women in different fields. She said that Pakistan always had a decent level of female participation, with women elected to national parliament and high government positions.
Ms Khursheed Bano of Hawa Lor said that more work was needed on pro-women legislation, while the CSOs, political parties and other segments of society should give priority to implementing women-related legislation.
Qamar Naseem appreciated the pro-human rights approach of the provincial and federal governments, saying they had so far done remarkable legislations.
He said that the NGOs would keep pushing for child rights amendment bill.
December 09, 2012
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TRENDING DISCUSSIONS
PESHAWAR – Activists of civil society have expressed concerns over unnecessary delay in holding of local government elections and bringing in place a representative local government system under the Local Government Act 2012 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing a seminar titled “Local Government election and Local Government Act 2012 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” organised by Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI) and Citizens’ Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) here at Peshawar Press Club. Prominent social workers Idrees Kamal, Arshad Haroon, Zar Ali Khan, Azhar Lashari and Afzal Shinwari were present on the occasion. They said that following the end of last local government’s tenure in 2009, a new interim local government system was established in all four provinces, including KPK.
They said that under 18th Constitutional Amendment 2010, the federal government authorised the provincial governments to legislate on whatever local government system suits their respective provincial conditions best.
They further said that in April 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered all the provincial governments to honor the command of the Constitution as enshrined in the 18th Amendment and immediately announce schedules for local bodies’ elections.
They added that against the backdrop of the 18th Amendment and SC ruling, the Local Government Khyber Paktunkhwa Act 2012 was enacted in June 2012, however, the rules of business the schedule of local government election in the province has not been announced.
They informed that the interim local government system, which is presently in place, has shrunk the spaces for active agency of people to participate in public affairs and hold the government to account.
They demanded of the to thoroughly review the local government laws to address the concerns of civil society beside government should also wider public debate involving wider sections of society and make their contributions for improving the new law. They also demanded local government election on new reformed laws
‘Religion, culture being used as tool against women
PESHAWAR, Dec 6: Speakers at seminar here on Thursday said that both religion and culture were misinterpreted and used as a tool against women in the society.
However, they dispelled the impression that all Pakistani men were violent. They said that majority of men avoided violence against women and considered it unacceptable.
The speakers said that men should give due respect and equal status to women and avoid violence against them to build a strong social relationship in the society.
The seminar titled ‘16 days of activism’ was organised by Blue Veins and Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD). MPA Manawar Farman, Swat Women Crisis Centre in-charge Ali Gohar Khan, CRSD chief executive Idrees Kamal and Qamar Naseem addressed the seminar.
“A silent majority of men disapproves violence but does little to prevent it. Of most concern, a significant number of men excuses or justifies violence against women. The silence and encouragement of male bystanders allow men to continue violence against women,” they said.
The speakers said that men must challenge the violence of other men and work to undermine the social and cultural support for violence against women. They said that callous behaviours and gender inequalities were feeding violence against women.
“The men, who stay silent in the face of other men’s violence against women, are not perpetrators but perpetuators as they allow this violence to continue,” they said.
The participants of the seminar asked the government through several resolutions, adopted on the occasion, to end impunity on issues relating to violence against women.They demanded of the provincial government to immediately appoint ombudsperson for the cases of sexual harassment at workplace.
They urged the government to revise its decision of closing women crisis centres in the province.
“Details of all projects jointly executed by the government and UN agencies must be made known to community organisations, media and citizens so that they can evaluate the success of all such schemes and play the role of a watchdog,” the participants of the seminar said.
They said that women related bills pending in the provincial assembly should be tabled at priority basis.—Bureau Report
New agriculture policy Govt urged to focus on women farmers
Politicians, civil society told to unite for democracy
Bureau Report
PESHAWAR, Sept 15: Speakers at a seminar on Wednesday asked political parties, civil society and media to join hands for strengthening democracy and blocking the way of martial laws in the country.
Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) arranged the seminar in collaboration with Peshawar Press Club here on the occasion of World Democracy Day.
CRSD head Idrees Kamal said that dictators had never allowed democratic institutions in the country to flourish and always imposed martial laws at the cost of people’s rights.
He presented some resolutions, including the one calling on the government to introduce democracy as subject in the academic course. He said that media should discourage those forces who had been paving the way for martial laws.
Through another resolution, Mr Kamal demanded an end to the trend of dynastic politics.
Through another resolution, Mr Kamal demanded an end to the trend of dynastic politics.
He said that all elected governments should be allowed to complete their constitutional term.
In a separate resolution, the CRSD head urged the ISPR to clarify army’s position concerning MQM chief Altaf Hussain’s demand for accountability of politicians by army. All the resolutions were unanimously adopted.
A civil society activist Shakeel Waheedullah said that conspiracies were being hatched against democracy. He said that the MQM chief had clearly invited army and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar had also met Chief of the Army Staff in the darkness of night, but did not disclose objective of their meetings.
He said that the nation needed political education so that people could raise voice for their rights. Referring to the role played by Pak Army in flood relief activities, he said that one of the reasons for army’s popularity among public was its substantial support to people in different disasters. He said that politicians never played such a role to come closer to people and get their support for democracy.
All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement chairman Haroon Sarab Diyal said that democracy in Pakistan was getting roots very slowly but still people had attached great expectations to democratic system. He said that civil society, media and politicians should join hands to strengthen democratic institutions in the country.
Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party provincial vice-president Dr Said Alam Mehsud said that democracy ensured equality to all races and there was no concept of minorities in democracy.
He said that democracy would get real strength when three successive elected governments would complete their constitutional tenures.
Awami National Party provincial spokesman Arbab Tahir said that dictators had always created problems and democratic governments had resolved the issues.
Local PPP leader Daud Khattak appreciated the role of army in the flood relief and rescue operation and criticised the government for its failure to support people in the hour of distress.
He said that corruption had disturbed the entire political system and getting justice had become very difficult.
New agriculture policy Govt urged to focus on women farmers
From the Newspaper | Bureau Report | 30th March, 2012
PESHAWAR, March 29: The participants of a dialogue here on Thursday asked the government to revise the agriculture policy and support women farmers to boost economy of the province.
Taking part in the dialogue, organised by ActionAid, executive director of Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development Idrees Kamal said that government was yet to implement the agriculture policy, announced in 2005.
The government should revise the agriculture policy and small-time farmers, especially women, should be focus of the revised policy.
Mohammad Khaliq of ActionAid discussed the role of small farmers in agriculture and rural development. He also highlighted different issues faced by poor growers, especially women farmers.
Jansher Khan from Buner said that there was a dire need to build the capacities of small farmers according to sustainable agriculture concept.
A woman farmer from Swabi shared her farming experience and demanded of the government to announce a long term organic farming programme for women growers.
“There is hardly any presence of women in agriculture and other related departments,” she added.
Another woman participant criticised government for ignoring the role of youth in development of agriculture. She said that majority of youth moved away from agriculture as there was no youth-specific agriculture sector programme.
She said that youth could play an active role in agriculture and rural development.
She added that they should develop youth networks at district and provincial levels to highlight small-scale farmers’ agriculture related issues.
Malik Sher Ali Khan from Swat said that small farmers in his area were not getting a reasonable price of their produce owing to lack of storage facilities. He proposed that government should provide them with storage facilities to reduce post harvest losses.
Zareef Khan from Rustam area of Mardan highlighted the importance of seed bank in protecting local seeds and ultimately ensuring household food security.
He said that government should launch a community-led seed bank to save small farmers from exploitation of multinational companies.
“A small farmer, who gets a produce despite all challenges, never receives reasonable price owing to inaccessibility to market,” said Liaqat Yousafzai, a resident of Matra village of Swabi.
Yousaf Shah appreciated establishment of farm service centres to provide agriculture inputs to farmers at their doorsteps. However, he said that small farmers were not benefiting from those centres.
Nasir Aziz of ActionAid said that most of the ‘food insecure people’ were living in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He added that ‘food insecure people’ were spending 70 per cent of their expenditures on food and compromising on health and education.
Civil society organization urge for proper storage system for food storage
Peshawar : Action Aid Pakistan with collaboration of Citizen Rights & Sustainable Development has organized dissemination seminar for sharing of survey findings of Food Storage Capacity in KPK at local hotel in Peshawar.
Main Speakers were Ms Shugafta Malik, Jan Nisar Khalil Vice President Pakistan Kissan Ithehad, Idrees Kamal Executive Director CRSD, Danial Talib from People s Students Federation, Shafique Gignani from Youth Club, Muhammad Khaliq from Action Aid Pakistan, Zar Ali from Society for Rights and Development, Haroon Sarabdial from APHRM, Ameer Khan from PDC, Shamas Naveed, Waqas Khan from RAHBAR Buner, Sapna Hayat form Shaooar for Change, Ashafaq Ahmed from CDO Swabi, Muhammad Bashir from Oghi Development Organization Mansehra, Skahi Jan from PRDP Mardan, Mahboob Ali from United Youth Welfare Organization Chrasadda. Speakers pointed out the issues of storage capacity in KPK and its associated problems.
They highlighted that there are no proper system for the storage of wheat and pericible goods which further creates problems of price hike of food items, flour crisis and wastage of wheat and maximum produced fruits and vegetables in the province.
The speakers demanded from the government for provision of more storage facilities at government level and improvement of existing storage facilities.
The current quota of the flour mills should be revisited to making it compatible with their installed capacity and the local needs; they should also offered subsidy to allow supply of flour to the market at affordable prices. The smuggling of wheat and other grains should be controlled by taking strict measures to stabilize food prices and sustained supply of food items in market.
KPK government should also install storage facilities for the storage of maize and rice also, in order to doing this the price of food grain will remain stable and no food shortage will be occurred. The growers will receive full return of their crops as well.
The current post harvest wastage of wheat can be minimized by government through improved harvesting practices, solicited and farmer friendly procurement processes including timely provision of jute bags and outreach and transparent procurement system.
The survey was conducted in seven districts Swabi, Buner, Mardan, Nowshera, Swat, Mansehra and Dear Ismail Khan where wheat is produced at its high level in the province.
The survey was conducted in relation with storage capacities in these districts. According to the survey there are lesser storage capacities in the province of KPK.
Among in these districts Buner, Swat and Swabi severely lacks the storage facilities and needs immediate attention of the concerning department of the government to minimize the loss of small and poor famers ultimately ensure food security in the province.
Call to protect miners’ rights
FCR termed ‘mother of all problems in Fata’ |
By PESHAWAR, June 23, 2011 (Balochistan Times): To let the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) seek protection from state organs, ActionAid Pakistan with other CSOs of KP has launched a campaign to get a legal draft on IDPs in Pakistan (prepared by it) enacted by the provincial assemblies of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. In Press Briefing Uzma Tahir, Policy Coordinator ActionAid Pakistan, Muhammad Idrees Kamal of CRSD Citizen Rights and sustainable Development, Qamar Naseem of Blue Vein, Faisal khan and Saira Bano of Shirkatgah, Zar Ali Khan of Tribal NGOs Consortium, Nazara Sayed of Khawendokor, Nizam Dawar of Tribal Development Network, Benish Irfan of Women Concern, Maqsood Sulfi of Peace Foundation, Shagufta Malik of WORD, Shakeela of Grass Root in Action, of Ahsas Welfare organization were present in the consultation and in Press Briefing. In a press briefing held here on Wednesday, Uzma Tahir, Policy Coordinator ActionAid Pakistan explained to media personnel of the significance of the draft law. Highlighting the main causes of the internal displacement, she stressed for the need to take legal measures for the welfare of the millions of displaced persons across KP and Balochistan. The legal draft on IDPs is based on internationally recognized principles such us the UN guidelines of 1998 and international law to determine the legal standing of the IDPs. This includes establishing a legal framework, ensuring the legal protection and providing a legal basis, said Uzma Tahir. She said that the draft law asked for providing special protection to women, children, vulnerable and displaced person with disabilities. It also demands for ensuring safe location of IDPs in satisfactory conditions of dignity, hygiene, water, food, shelter and away from areas of armed conflict and danger. It requires ensuring freedom of movement, choice of residence; facilitating family reunification and necessary protection for families of mixed ethnic identity. Elaborating the scheme of advocacy campaign for enactment of the draft law, Uzma Tahir laid down broad parameters that divided the campaign into two phases. In the first phase, the draft document will be circulated among bar associations, academia (teachers, students and scholars) and the civil society. While in the second phase of the campaign, parliamentarians from Balochistan and KP will be approached to get the draft law passed from the provincial assemblies. Qamar Naseem , Program Coordinator Blue Veins said that the draft document adhered to the principles of international humanitarian law and human rights applicable to the protection of IDPs. These principles provide guidance to:, (a) The state of Pakistan when faced with the issue of IDPs, (b) all other authorities, groups and persons in relation with IDPs including Social welfare department, National/Provincial/District Disaster Management Authorities. Idrees Kamal, Executive Director Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD)and CoordinatorPCSN said that over the last decade, Pakistan has experienced a large scale involuntary displacement caused by a range of factors including military operation against militants in KP (Malakand and FATA) as well against insurgents/ dissidents in Balochistan. Moreover the exodus of millions of people is also attributed to generalized violence and violation of human rights; and other natural and human-caused disasters including heavy flooding all across Pakistan and a devastating earthquake in KPK and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The draft document underlines the key challenges and various areas of concern that need to be addressed through domestic laws and policies. It binds the state of Pakistan to prevent arbitrary displacement and to eliminate the root causes of the displacement. Further it requires of the state and the government to ensure the physical and material safety of the IDPSs and that it should maintain a national database for the registration of the IDPs.
Citizens Rights Seminar Kamal welcomes amends in FCR but wants further changes
Posted on 2 yearss ago
F.P. Report PESHAWAR: The NGO  Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) will organize a seminar on August 22 to create awareness among the tribes of FATA  of their human rights and pressure government to eliminate regulations in Frontier Crimes Regulation that are against their fundamental rights as human beings.  Executive Director of CRSD Idrees Kamal said this in a statement issued from his office on Thursday.He said that recent move of the government to reform FCR was appreciable because it would enable tribesmen to enjoy their  basic human rights which were not given to them because of the so called black law.He said that in spite of the recent amendments there still were instances in the FCR which need to be abolishedThe government should bring reforms in FCR after more  consultations with the stakeholders. Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) was fevised by British colonialist in 1848 as an instrument of subjugation and to discipline the Pakhtun population and establish the writ of the of colonial authority. The law was rightly called  "black law" and 'draconian law" which targeted innocent men, women and children of the tribes The repeal and change in FCR has been an ongoing demand of the civil society since the inception of Pakistan. The present government has announced the revisions in this regulation which is commendable but alongside this positive development two more regulations have been promulgated for FATA and PATA. These regulations are in conflict with the Constitution and existing laws and can jeopardize the existing precarious human rights situation in not only FATA and PATA but across the country.In order to bring out unified voice of the civil society in highlighting the affect of the regulations on the situation of human rights in FATA and PATA and to put pressure on the public representatives and political parties to raise voice in the Parliament for the withdrawal of the regulations repugnant to the constitution.The CRSD chief Idrees Kamal invited all intellectuals and those interested in justice for the tribes and human rights general to participate in the Seminar and participate in the struggle for a just cause.
PESHAWAR: In order to promote the cause of female education after the attack on Malala Yousafzai, a consultative meeting of the civil society representatives and senior journalists was held at a hotel here on Wednesday.
Representatives from ActionAid Pakistan, Idrees Kamal of Citizens Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD), Tariq Hayat of Peace Education and Development (PEAD) and senior journalists Shamim Shahid, Waseem Ahmad Shah and others spoke on the plight of girls in Pakistan, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
On October 15, 2012, former British premier Gordon Brown, now the United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education, launched a petition in Malala Yousafzai’s name and “in support of what Malala fought for.”
Using the slogan “I am Malala!” the petition’s main demand is that there will be no children left out of school by 2015, in the hope that “girls like Malala everywhere will soon be going to school”.
Gordon Brown will present a petition to President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday to call on Pakistan to agree to a plan to put its five million out-of-school children into education, and to call on the international community to deliver on its promise of education for all.
Govt asked to protect citizens rights
PESHAWAR, Dec 31: Civil society organisations will hold a series of functions today (Sunday) across the country in order to mark the January 1st as solidarity day and to urge the government to make strenuous efforts for restoration of peace, security and protection of the lives and properties of the people.
Speaking at a joint press conference at Peshawar Press Club on Saturday Citizens Rights and Sustainable Development chief executive Idrees Kamal accompanied by many others said the solidarity day would be marked at 140 locations in the country, including Fata and all the frontier regions.
Nusrat Ara of South Asia Partnership (SAP), Dr Sarfaraz Khan, director Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar, Shereen Javed of Aurat Foundation, Ms Nazaar from Khwendo Kor, Prof Ejaz from University of Peshawar and Sameen Afridi of CRSD were also present.
Mr Kamal said they would unite people for expressing their contempt at the unabated torture, targeted killings and kidnappings that have made the lives of common people miserable across Pakistan and particularly in Balochistan.
“The state’s failure to apprehend perpetrators of the recent spate of kidnappings and killings had further increased peoples’ anxiety and encouraged impunity of culprits that roam freely without any fear or reprisal,” he said.
Similarly, the rest of participants also said that it was the responsibility of the state to provide life security, livelihood and liberty to all citizens without any discrimination of religion, sect, class or clan and gender. They added the state must implement laws that protected citizens against violence and repeal discriminatory laws at the earliest.
Referring to the Amnesty International, they said that it had demanded urgent action to prevent any form of tyranny and injustice and called on the state to promote harmony and tolerance among communities and religious groups.
The civil society activists said crippling gas and electricity loadshedding and low pressure was a reflection of poor governance, misplaced priorities and lack of accountability on part of the government.
The AI, they maintained, demanded increase in investment in public utilities, education, health, justice and equal opportunities to all citizens as these include the basic facilities of life.
They said thousands of citizens in villages, towns and cities would join these rallies and call upon the state institutions to play due role under the parameters defined by the constitution of Pakistan.—Bureau Report
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World Refugee Day marked with exchange of flowers
PESHAWAR - For the first time since 1979 when millions of Afghans fled their motherland following invasion by former Soviet Union, an exchange of flowers amongst locals and Afghan refugees was arranged in connection with the Universal Refugee Day (WRD) at Akora Khattak area of Nowshehra district on Wednesday.
The event was jointly organized by Nowshera district government, Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) and Blue Veins.
This was the first time that an in activity in relation to World Refugee day was organized in Nowshera that was attended by lawyers, teachers, students, police, representatives of the health, education, TMA and other departments.
Flowers were exchanged by the host and refugee communities at Khushal Khan Khattak Library Hall, Akora Khattak, Nowshera.
The event honored the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who were forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.
Nowshera DCO Ayaz Khan Mandokhel said that the by organizing an event where both communities were present aimed to raise awareness about the 21st century refugee challenge.
“Around the world people are forced to flee their home for complicated and interlinked reasons that include the war, political violence, exclusion and the competition of scare resources in troubled states,” he said, adding that the exchange of flowers between host community and refugees was token of goodwill and pledge of friendship.
Qamar Naseem, program coordinator, highlighted the back ground of the WRD and background of refuges in Pakistan.
He informed the participants about the RAHA initiative. He said the aim of the Refugee and Hosting Areas Programme (RAHA) was to promote regional stability and compensate for the social, economic and environmental consequences wrought on Pakistani communities by the presence of more than three million Afghans over the past 30 years.
“The overall objective of the RAHA program is to improve livelihood, rehabilitate the environment and enhance social cohesion within communities of refugee-affected and hosting areas. Public services will be improved and policies made more effective by strengthening the capacities of the government, community institutions and vulnerable groups. The UN One Program crosscutting issues relating to human rights, gender equality, civil society engagement and refugees will be addressed. Peaceful coexistence between the communities will safeguard a more predictable stay for Afghans until they can return to Afghanistan,” he said.
DSP Samad Khan said harassing Afghan nationals with POR cards was not the government’s policy, but could be individual acts.
He said through the forum, he was informing all Afghan nationals and Afghan representatives that they could contact him in case of any harassment or ill legal detention and that serious notice would be taken of any such act by police.
The event was jointly organized by Nowshera district government, Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) and Blue Veins.
This was the first time that an in activity in relation to World Refugee day was organized in Nowshera that was attended by lawyers, teachers, students, police, representatives of the health, education, TMA and other departments.
Flowers were exchanged by the host and refugee communities at Khushal Khan Khattak Library Hall, Akora Khattak, Nowshera.
The event honored the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who were forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.
Nowshera DCO Ayaz Khan Mandokhel said that the by organizing an event where both communities were present aimed to raise awareness about the 21st century refugee challenge.
“Around the world people are forced to flee their home for complicated and interlinked reasons that include the war, political violence, exclusion and the competition of scare resources in troubled states,” he said, adding that the exchange of flowers between host community and refugees was token of goodwill and pledge of friendship.
Qamar Naseem, program coordinator, highlighted the back ground of the WRD and background of refuges in Pakistan.
He informed the participants about the RAHA initiative. He said the aim of the Refugee and Hosting Areas Programme (RAHA) was to promote regional stability and compensate for the social, economic and environmental consequences wrought on Pakistani communities by the presence of more than three million Afghans over the past 30 years.
“The overall objective of the RAHA program is to improve livelihood, rehabilitate the environment and enhance social cohesion within communities of refugee-affected and hosting areas. Public services will be improved and policies made more effective by strengthening the capacities of the government, community institutions and vulnerable groups. The UN One Program crosscutting issues relating to human rights, gender equality, civil society engagement and refugees will be addressed. Peaceful coexistence between the communities will safeguard a more predictable stay for Afghans until they can return to Afghanistan,” he said.
DSP Samad Khan said harassing Afghan nationals with POR cards was not the government’s policy, but could be individual acts.
He said through the forum, he was informing all Afghan nationals and Afghan representatives that they could contact him in case of any harassment or ill legal detention and that serious notice would be taken of any such act by police.
Parties urged to unite for democracy
PESHAWAR, Jan 13: Speakers at a seminar on Friday urged political parties to join forces to block any undemocratic move against the country`s democratic institutions.
The seminar, titled `Save Democracy Campaign`, was organised by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network at the Peshawar Press Club, where representatives of non-governmental organisations showed up in large numbers.
Speakers, including Dr Said Alam of Aman Tehrik, Idrees Kamal of Citizen Rights Sustainable Development, Maryam Bibi of Khendo Kor, Arshad Hussain of a civil society organisation, Daniyal Talib and Allah Noor of Save Pakistan and Shireen Javaid of Aurat Foundation, said democracy was the only system, which could help the country cope with the growing internal and external challenges.
They said all state organs, including judiciary, military and civil administration, should function within their constitutional limits and avoid confrontation.
Dr Alam said a `well-organised` conspiracy had been hatched against democracyand therefore, political parties should play their due role to thwart it.
`Anti-democratic forces want to derail democracy by `silly tactics` and political parties can foil it by getting united,` he said.
Mr Idrees said confrontation among national institutions was harmful for democracy and that all political parties needed to unite against any unconstitutional move.
He urged political forces to resolve the current political crisis by political means instead of engaging third group, which could harm democracy.
He said civil society organisations won`t favour any unconstitutional step against a democratically-elected government. He said the Save Democracy Campaign would be expanded to other provinces to sensitise people to significance of democracy and consequences of any unconstitutional step against the government.
Dr Mushtaq said the democratically elected government should complete its constitutional term of five years.
He highlighted the role of civil society organisations in creation of public awareness of democracy to strengthen institutions.
Interview Muhammad Idrees Kamal: "Helping the poor at any cost"
Interview
"Helping the poor at any cost"
Muhammad Idrees Kamal worked in the private industrial sector for many years on a variety of topics. He is the Executive Director of the organization “Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development”. The organization has been working with community for almost 30 years in the sectors of poverty alleviation, workers education, labour rights, health, education, women development, environment pollution, capacity building. CRSD is currently working for the victims of the floods in Peshawar, the region which has been affected most.
Furthermore, Muhammad Idrees Kamal is a Member of several committees and forums, e.g. he is founder and member of the AMN TEHRIK steering committee and formed the Social Welfare Society Tarkha in 1988.
December 23, 2010
By Sobia Nazir
Could you tell us a little bit about your organization “Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development”?
CRSD was registered under the Societies Act 1860 in 2008 with the government of Pakistan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Peshawar. Its board of directors has 10 members from various strata of life. CRSD is a non-profit, non-partisan, and non-sectarian organization. We have been working with the community for last almost 30 years and have experience in management in sectors like poverty alleviation, workers education, labor rights, political rights, health, peace building, education, women’s development, child labor, environmental pollution, human development. We are also capable of building NGOs, CSOs, and CBOs. We have a vast working experience in mass mobilization, community awareness, advocacy, capacity building and arranging of seminars, dialogues, conferences, workshops, walks, rallies, festivals, exhibitions, debates, focal group discussions and meetings on social, political and economic issues. Change the policies of the state, so that these are in accordance with the wishes of the people.
Which difficulties do face, working on issues like poverty alleviation, labor rights, education, women development or environment pollution in Pakistan?
To work in sectors like labor rights, workers education, environmental pollution and the like in Pakistan is not easy and we face many problems during our endeavors. We are very active in labor capacity building programs, which is not always looked upon with favor, as a worker who is more aware of his legal rights will be more demanding, which in turn is not exactly desirable by the industry owners. The marble industry in Buner District is one of our focus points. There are about 5,000 mine and industrial workers in the region. We conduct capacity building workshops for them with support of Actionaid Pakistan. Most of these people are not even registered. Also, we are trying to introduce better and safer methods of mining to these workers. In these marble industries, very ancient and hazardous methods are being used. These are cheap, but also not only dangerous for the miners, but also only 25% of the marble is extracted and the rest is wasted.
We are also working on different issues like human rights, democracy, and peace building. We are working for the rights of the people in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and to repeal the draconian law Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). We are also working for the women rights in close cooperation with other NGO’s such as Aurat Foundation, SharkatGah, SPO and Noor Education trust etc. If it weren’t for poverty, most of the people would want their daughters to obtain an education. The government is providing an incentive in the form of free books, but the education should be completely free so that everyone can have easy access to it. We are also working for the rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and formed the Network for Humanitarian Assistance (NHA) with other NGOs to highlight the problems of flood affected people and other IDPs. We are part of many networks and alliances, working on different issues like human rights, education, environment, child rights, democracy, peace and security, youth development and food security.
What did you do to help the people in the flooded areas? How long did it take to get there and provide help?
Although I now live in Peshawar, I come from a small village called ‘Tarkha’ in the District of Nowshehra. I first received information about the flood on 28th July from my relatives, who are still living in that village. Our village did not suffer many losses, but other villages that were only 2 km away from us, and closer to the River Kabul, were affected badly. And most of the inhabitants of the affected villages left their homes and came to our village Tarkha and other near villages of UC Akbarpora. Our people opened their doors to the flood affected people and gave them shelter in their own homes and Community Centers (Hujra). The women and children were taken into the schools and the men into separate Community Centers. With this large influx of flood refugees, we needed to provide food for these people. Although our organization CRSD is usually not associated with service providing activities, this was an emergency and so we decided to provide as much relief aid to as many people and areas that we could.
As a first step, we formed a volunteers committee. Initially it consisted of 24 members, but was then extended to 40 members. The Committee’s main responsibility was to look after CRSD camps in Tarkha, Ali Shah, NATAL, Kurvi, and Khusmuqam in District Nowshera. We got in touch with other NGOs partner organizations such as SPO, Noor Education Trust and Rakshanda Naz of Women Action Forum, a Philanthropist and Woman Activist, Mr Daud Khan Khattak Ex Nazim District Nowshera, Khattak Quami Jirga, and some other friends from abroad. Noor Education Trust provided with food for about 1,200 people for the first day. SPO provided for the next three days, Rakhsinda Naz of Women Action Forum, Fauzia Asad Haider from US, Khattak Quami Jirga and some other Philanthropist for next days. And Aurat foundation provided some hygiene kits. Poda and ABKT distributed some relief goods in our camps.
Our relief aid was primarily obtained by charity, and was being administered on a day to day basis. In order to provide people with the required sustenance, we had asked the donors to provide us directly with food items instead of money. In the beginning, our access was to 1,200 flood people affected by the flood. After few days, we started providing food items for 3,700 people. Contributor Abad Ullah Khan, an engineer by profession, distributed (non food items) NFI and other relief goods to the flood affectees, living with host families. We also provided the displaced persons with medical facilities by arranging private doctors and medical camps with other NGOs and medical students, who could then provide free checkups to the people.
By this time, we had started to also receive help from Bait-ul-Mal and the Nowshehra Government. World Food Program also distributed relief packages amongst the flood affectees. With WFP in the area, the dietary needs of the people started to be fulfilled efficiently. There weren’t many faith based organizations working in our area although many of them were active in the regions like Akora Khatak. These organizations did not delay with administrative issues, like lists and registration. They just provided aid packages to as many people as possible. This created a positive image for them, as they had accessed major numbers of people. Local leaders and workers of Political Parties were also active to provide relief to flood affectees.
After the flood, the situation in Pakistan was described to be quite chaotic in the newspapers. Is it still like that? Or is the situation more stabilized by now?
The aid efforts comprised of different periods. The first was the rescue efforts, which were mainly carried out by the people themselves in our area. Apart from some regions like Mohib Banda, Pashtoon Gari and Nowshera Kalan Khaishegi, Pir Sabaq, in Nowshera helicopters were sent to take part in the rescue activities. Then the people needed to be provided with relief. The provincial governance system had collapsed, since all the government employees had been stranded due to the flood. The Motor way runs over the River Kabul and was also flooded. The only way open was by air. But the provincial government only had two helicopters. So the provincial Government contacted the federal government and army to arrange more helicopters for the rescue operations. Some helicopters were also sent over by the USA. Thus the flood affectees, both directly and indirectly, started to receive sustenance from various national and international organizations.
Some regions received more than the others. And in yet other parts, not everyone did get the required aid. But most of the people for now have sufficient amounts of food for the next month or so. The World Food Programme (WFP) has started providing people with food items, on the basis of work done for food. This was considered as important by the government and other civil societies. With that, the people can once again engage in everyday life activities and return to somewhat of normalization. People have lost their livelihoods and are still without proper shelters. Now the government and the national and international community need to help these people in the process of rehabilitation. Shelter is needed urgently, as in the coming days the weather will change drastically, leaving the people in a vulnerable state. It will take hard work and lots of commitment, before we can truly say that the situation has improved. In the winter season, the situation will worsen, if their living conditions are not improved. They have no blankets, no beds and no heating facilities.
Who did you work with? Local organizations, government, military, international organizations?
Our camps were regularly visited by officials from government, army and international organizations. The administrative efficiency of these camps was duly appreciated. In the beginning, we had about 176 families in one school, comprising of women and children. In the six schools of the village, there were 370 families. The men were hosted in Hujras and Mosques. In the last days of September, we had about 88 families in one high school and combined 145 families. In this way, we had hosted large numbers of people displaced due to the flood. We are basically an advocacy organization and had no experience with charity collection and relief operations. But when this crises created havoc in the lives of so many people in our region, we arose to the situation and worked in close collaboration with all the institutes including the Khattak Quami Jirga, local government as well as international institutions, so that we could do as much as possible to provide relief to the people. As our slogan is: “Helping the poor at any cost”.
Did the money donated by people abroad come through to the victims? Was international help welcomed?
Two or three incidents in the past have changed the concept of NGOs and foreign aid agencies in the mind frames of the people. The aid provided after the earthquake had not been fully utilized for the development of the region, and as a result is still in poor condition. And then the aid provided to the IDPs was linked to ulterior motives of the donor agencies. The NGOs and international agencies also lack transparency, proper monitoring and evaluation. They are also considered to be involved in corruption and favoritism. That has resulted in a tarnished image of these institutions. This is the first time that other Islamic countries have also provided relief efforts, for example Saudi Arabia, Kuwait etc. In general, people were touched by the visits made to the affected regions by the foreign representatives and were thankful for the support provided via these institutes.
Mr. Kamal, thank you very much for this interview.
First panel of our conference: Shahgufta Malik, Muhammad Idrees Kamal, Britta Petersen, Ayesha Siddiqa, Abid Suleri.
Report and interviews
· Interview Abid Suleri: "There is a relationship between food insecurity and militancy in Pakistan"
· Interview Shagufta Malik: "Don‘t just criticize the Pakistani government, also highlight its achievements"
Conference on Action in aid of civil power regulation
A civil society perspective seminar jointly organized by CRSD, SUNGI and actionaid Pakistan on ‘Action In aid of civil power in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas’ on Monday failed to reach consensus among civil society organizations, nationalist and democratic forces over the two laws which human rights activists believe could be misused to target political opponents. Conference was attended, Idrees Kamal Executive Director CRSD, Mian Ifthikhar Hussain Minister of Information, Culture and Coordination, Siraj Ul Haq Naib Amir, Sahibzada Haroon Rasheed of Jamat Islami, Ghani Gul Mahsud of PPP, Mukhtar Bacha of National Party, Arbab Mujeeb of PMAP, Mulana Aman Ullah of JUI-F, Muhammad Jan Gigyani of PPPS, Zahir Shah of FRM, Dr. Said Alam Amn Tehrik, Anwar Kamal Khan, Rehmat Salam Khattak of PML N, Farhad Khan of PMLQ and Ghulam Nabi Advocate and Karim Mahsud Peshawar High Court, Sami ullah Afridi of FATA lawyers Forum, Sikander Zaman, Zar Ali Khan, Nizam Dawar, Nazeef Khan, Iqbal Panjtar, Noor Islam of Sungi , Waqas Ali and other civil society members.
Awami National Party, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Pakistan Peoples Party PPP and National Party stood in support of the two laws while Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl), Pakistan People’s Party (Sherpao) and Pakistan Muslim League (N) and Lawyers community opposed the laws. “We support these laws but there are some flaws which need to be removed,” KP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain told the conference, organized by Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development CRSD with support from Action Aid Pakistan and Sungi Foundation. “Political reforms in tribal areas are first drop in the ocean and real reforms are destined to come in tribal areas,” Mian Iftikhar remarked, adding that Pakhtoon nation was paying the price for undeclared war on their soil. PPP-S, JI, JUI-f and PML-N representatives said they “oppose” the laws as they will make tribal people’s lives miserable. “We demand immediate withdrawal of the laws,” they said. “We support political reforms in tribal areas and they are enough.” Arbab Mujib of Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party said Uzbek and Arab terrorists were beheading innocent people in tribal areas and the government promulgated the laws to put a brake to such acts “which we welcome.” Mukhtar Bacha of National Party told the conference that the laws would elimibnate terrorism from tribal areas and Malakand region and should not be used against political opponents. JI leader Sirajul Haq said the laws were violation of the Article 247 of the Constitution as the two regulations “violate human rights” in tribal areas. “These regulations will fuel disturbances in tribal areas instead eliminating terrorism,” the JI leader warned. PML (N) leader Anwar Kamal said noose around the Pakhtoon nation was being further tightened and the two regulations would make tribal areas “hell” for people there. “The Pakhtoon nation should be freed from the clutches of US and Pakistan Army.” Anwar Kamal opposed the action in aid civil power regulation, He said the 12 August FCR reforms is meaningless in presence of these regulations. We demand from President to repeal it. |
Posted on August 19, 2011
F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: The NGO Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD) will organize a seminar on August 22 to create awareness among the tribes of FATA of their human rights and pressure government to eliminate regulations in Frontier Crimes Regulation that are against their fundamental rights as human beings. Executive Director of CRSD Idrees Kamal said this in a statement issued from his office on Thursday. He said that recent move of the government to reform FCR was appreciable because it would enable tribesmen to enjoy their basic human rights which were not given to them because of the so called black law.He said that in spite of the recent amendments there still were instances in the FCR which need to be abolishedThe government should bring reforms in FCR after more consultations with the stakeholders. Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) was fevered by British colonialist in 1848 as an instrument of subjugation and to discipline the Pakhtun population and establish the writ of the of colonial authority. The law was rightly called ”black law” and ‘draconian law” which targeted innocent men, women and children of the tribes The repeal and change in FCR has been an ongoing demand of the civil society since the inception of Pakistan. The present government has announced the revisions in this regulation which is commendable but alongside this positive development two more regulations have been promulgated for FATA and PATA. These regulations are in conflict with the Constitution and existing laws and can jeopardize the existing precarious human rights situation in not only FATA and PATA but across the country.In order to bring out unified voice of the civil society in highlighting the affect of the regulations on the situation of human rights in FATA and PATA and to put pressure on the public representatives and political parties to raise voice in the Parliament for the withdrawal of the regulations repugnant to the constitution.The CRSD chief Idrees Kamal invited all intellectuals and those interested in justice for the tribes and human rights general to participate in the Seminar and participate in the struggle for a just cause.
Political parties divided over promulgation of 2 laws in KP
Staff Report
PESHAWAR: A civil society perspective seminar on ‘Action In aid of Civil Power in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas’ held among civil society organisations, nationalist and democratic forces on Monday failed to reach a consensus over two laws, which human rights activists believe could be misused to target political opponents.
Civil society organisations and political parties were divided over the introduction of tough new laws for FATA and PATA to deal with the threat of terrorism in the Tribal Areas and Malakand region.
Awami National Party (ANP), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) and National Party (NP) stood in support of the two laws while Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao (PPP-S) and Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) opposed them.
“We support these laws but there are some flaws which need to be removed,” Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain told the conference, which was organised by Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development with support from Action Aid.
“Political reforms in Tribal Areas are the first drop in the ocean and real reforms are destined to come in the Tribal Areas,” Mian Iftikhar remarked, adding that the Pakhtoon nation was paying the price of an undeclared war on their soil.
PPP-S, JI, JUI-F and PML-N representatives said that they opposed the laws because they would make tribal people’s lives miserable. “We demand immediate withdrawal of the laws,” they said. “We support political reforms in Tribal Areas and they are enough.”
PMAP member Arbab Mujib said that Uzbek and Arab terrorists were beheading innocent people in the Tribal Areas and that the government promulgated the laws to put a stop to such acts, which they welcomed.
NP member Mukhtar Bacha told the conference that the laws would eliminate terrorism from the Tribal Areas and Malakand region.
JI leader Sirajul Haq said that the laws were in violation of Article 247 of the Constitution as the two regulations “violate human rights” in the Tribal Areas.
“These regulations will fuel disturbances in the Tribal Areas instead of eliminating terrorism,” the JI leader warned.
PML-N leader Anwar Kamal said that the noose around the Pakhtoon nation’s collective necks was being further tightened and that the two regulations would make the Tribal Areas “hell” for people there. “The Pakhtoon nation should be freed from the clutches of the US and Pakistan Army.”
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