The NAP Tracker
Project Period: 2015-
The Center for Research and Security Studies launched The NAP Tracker in 2015, which audits the government on all 20 points of the National Action Plan (NAP). It is an attempt to empirically deconstruct progress on the NAP, and to try and determine if it is sufficient, wide-ranging and most importantly, effective. The report also calls upon a range of experts, columnists and researchers to weigh in on the various themes related to the NAP. The reports are divided into nine separate themes, derived from the 20 points of the NAP.
The NAP Tracker is the only publication of its kind that tracks the Pakistani state’s progress on all 20 points of the National Action Plan.
Annual Security Report (AST)
Project Partner: Embassy of Switzerland, Pakistan (Initial Two Years 2012-13)
Project Period: March 2012 –
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) launched Annual Security Report (AST) in March 2012 to map the conflict ridden territories, perpetrators of crime and violence, and types of violence committed both qualitatively and quantitatively throughout Pakistan, on a monthly basis. The data accompanied with a detailed report pinpoints reasons for the violence such as suicide bombings, cases of blasphemy, sectarian and ethnic killings, desecration of places of worship, target killings etc., which are important to understand the nature and emerging conflict trends across Pakistan. The report is compiled with the help of field reports by CRSS radio reporters/researchers, and 10 major newspapers. CRSS believes that this report is important for Pakistani and foreign policy-makers, diplomats and researchers, a resource that chronicles conflict-related developments across Pakistan, and is helpful in monitoring trends of violence and conflict. In 2011, CRSS also undertook monitoring of violence in Balochistan, titled “Balochistan Security Monitor”. The AST reports are shared on the website and with the media. There is also a good demand of the report from international and national researchers. The AST report was published on the CRSS website on a monthly basis from March 2012 to December 2014, but the format has been changed to a quarterly basis from January 2015.
Media Advocacy via Airwaves
Project Partner: Radio Pakistan and local media
Project Period: 2009 –
CRSS takes pride in being one of the few civil society organizations that took up radio as a means for community-focused strategic communication on issues such as militancy, counter-radicalization, promoting democratic values, harmony, and tolerance all over Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Since its inception, this project was designed to urgently address the humanitarian issues, and help disseminate much needed information to inform the millions displaced by conflicts in Swat and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) in November 2009. This advocacy campaign has won appreciation of all the stakeholders including citizens, law enforcement agencies, media, and others. The initiative contributed to an informed and focused debate on religion, Pashtoon ethnicity, the Pashtoonwali code, and tried to build a narrative rooted with more globally acknowledged democratic practices and constitutionalism, than in traditional social structures which at times are in conflict with the imperative of an inclusive, democratic and tolerant society.
The endeavor is to counter the skewed extremist narrative propagated by radical militants and, to promote moderate views based on ideals of peace, tolerance, and co-existence in the conflict-hit northwestern regions of Pakistan, through its Pashto language radio programs. The programs address issues like social, religiously-colored conservatism, and irrational dogmas about the weaker segments of the society including religious minorities. These shows highlight the sanctity of the Federal Constitution as a reference for social harmony and all-inclusive equal citizenry. CRSS has completed several projects explicitly aiming at advocacy and raising awareness on fundamental democratic rights and the need for secular political governance. CRSS has aired approximately 3,000 radio programs under media advocacy through airwaves.
To view CRSS radio programs visit:
Pakistan Center for Excellence (PACE)
Project Partner: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Project Period: August 2015 –
Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE) is a major CVE initiative by CRSS designed to trigger critical thinking through a discourse anchored in fundamental global values such as socio-political diversity, acceptance of diversity, rule of law and equal citizenry, as well as the rights afforded within Pakistan’s Constitution (articles 8-28). This landmark project is running with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The goal of PACE is to create a critical mass of young leaders equipped with critical/analytical skills to critically analyze issues, look at others as equal citizens, correct misperceptions about non-Muslims, and ask questions about their perceived reality. PACE promotes a socio-political discourse – the alternate narrative on democratic rights and responsibilities anchored in the globally accepted and practiced concepts such as rule of law, equal citizenry, secular governance as a primary condition for social cohesion and tolerance for, and acceptance of cultural diversity.
The initiative attempts to reconnect people with the constitution of Pakistan and the fundamental human rights afforded therein (article 8-28). Over 4+ years, hundreds of teachers, and thousands of students have been trained and engaged across a wide variety of PACE interventions.
The cadre of future leaders are sensitized in critical concepts such as:
- Leadership and motivation
- Equal citizenry and respect for rule of law
- Fundamentals of democracy, governance and accountability
- Respect for diversity, opinions and rights
- Rights of minorities and other marginalized groups
- Constitutionalism, and adherence to Pakistan’s Constitution, particularly articles 8-28
- The importance of asking critical questions in the pursuit of knowledge
Ulasi Taroon
Project Partner: United States Public Affairs Section (USPAS)
Project Period: 2018 –
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of CRSS that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the core values of the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It is an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.
Gender Focused Economic Reforms (GFER)
Project Period: September 2019 –
As part of the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) ongoing advocacy for economic reforms, the Center has undertaken an unprecedented initiative to foster women economic empowerment through a dialogue on gender inclusive economic reforms. The endeavor aims to underscore the importance of women economic empowerment and participation, harmonization of policies and interdepartmental synergies, revision of Small and Medium Enterprises’ (SME) definition and gender inclusive Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF) to close the gender gap for the future of Pakistan’s economic stability. It is envisaged to bring on radar the issues related to gender focused economic reforms in the upper and lower houses, for consideration and incorporation for and in Pakistan’s economic reforms agenda.
Sabawoon (Dawn)
Project Partner: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Australia
Project Period: July 2011 to January 2020
“Sabawoon” (Dawn) was the Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) flagship and popular radio show aired from Peshawar for the entire Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas regions. It was designed to inculcate respect for human rights values, underscore the need for good governance, create greater awareness for democratic and governance reforms in democratic institutions, and to create avenues for the public to participate in policymaking either through formal institutions or informal consultations. Through this endeavor, CRSS established mechanisms for the inclusion of multiple social groups in decision-making processes, such as youth and students, provincial legislatures, and other concerned officials including local representatives.
The radio programs helped encourage civil society and local communities to formulate and express their positions on significant issues experienced by them. All segments of “Sabawoon” radio programs aimed to emphasize the fundamental importance of promoting justice and the rule of law as an ‘indispensable element’ for peaceful coexistence and to prevent armed conflict. The shows broadcast from private radio channels FM 101 Peshawar, AM 1260 Peshawar, FM 93 Dera Ismail Khan.
The programs meant to promote a democratic discourse, trigger critical thinking, and create social space for a counter-radicalization narrative in the militancy stricken and religious extremism prone areas. “Sabawoon” established a “Listener Club” to determine the listeners’ interest in the radio program, where the shows were successfully received, and to evaluate their understanding of the issues discussed with the help of a specially designed questionnaire.
For “Sabawoon” radio programs visit:
Increasing Citizen Engagement in Democratic Processes
Project Partner: Center for International Private Enterprise
Project Period: September 2017 to February 2018
In the run up to the elections 2018 in Pakistan, there was a dire need to improve the systems currently in practice in the parliament; especially the parliamentary hearings on key issues. The proposed intervention attempted to improve the mechanisms in-place and processes for parliamentary hearing on key issues in the parliament of Pakistan. At the core of this initiative was the desk research on the existing processes of public hearing, and consultations comprising politicians, select standing committee members, businessmen, media/ journalists, economic think tanks and members of civil society. The consultations were aimed at generating recommendations/ proposals around the foundational flaws in the hearing mechanisms.
With the culmination of this effort in the presentation of recommendations in both the houses of parliament, the intervention is envisaged to enhance public participation – improving hearing processes – as an avenue to effective public-private dialogue.
Beyond Boundaries – Phase II
Project Partner: British High Commission
Project Period: August 2016 to March 2017
The Phase II of the CRSS Pakistan-Afghanistan track 1.5 & II project Beyond Boundaries built on the successful outcome of its prequel “Beyond Boundaries” which did a good job of initial ice-breaking, scene setting and laid foundation for more result-oriented conversations and structured dialogue to generate more actionable policy recommendations around identified issues such as border management, security, easement of formal trade, education, health, refugees, and sports, arts and culture and media-intellectual exchanges.
The Beyond Boundaries phase II formulated a Pak- Afghan Joint Committee (PAJC) as a bilateral track II mechanism to try and help overcome the deep rooted acrimony and suspicion through a focused and meaningful series of dialogue. The PAJC comprised 5 to 7 members each from Pakistan and Afghanistan including security experts, parliamentarians, civil society, and business/media representatives. The CRSS in partnership with its counterpart in Kabul, Women & Peace Studies Organization (WPSO), reached out to high level experts and constituted the Pakistan Afghanistan Joint Committee. CRSS and WPSO worked closely with the respective diplomatic missions in Kabul and Islamabad (Pakistani and Afghan) during the project period. The PAJC aimed to develop understanding on the identified bilateral issues mentioned above to help detox narratives, improve public perceptions, and mitigate mutual allegations and suspicions. The core group members kept alternating for the captive interactions, strategic meetings on the sidelines, public seminars at universities and media appearances through TV Shows during the total of six workshops/ visits of joint committee through the project life cycle August, 2016 to March, 2017; two at Islamabad, one each at Karachi and Lahore in Pakistan and Kabul, and Mazaar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan. As strategic oversight, the PAJC groups lobbied with their respective governments on the progress of the previous and newly generated recommendations of Beyond Boundaries. The joint committee acted as bridge between two governments, to ensure continuation of bilateral conversation and promote and foster better people-to-people contacts between the two countries.
For project activities visit:
Ulasi Police – Strengthening Rule of Law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Project Partner: USAID
Project Period: April 2016 to March 2017
Ulasi Police, a CRSS project aimed at strengthening rule of law in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – disseminating the significant police reforms, incorporating the local communities’ policing needs – made some significant progress during its course of implementation. The multi-pronged intervention – with the strategic communication tools of radio and TV, and electronic social and print media at the core – generated multiple results of addressing the public-police trust deficit, reducing gaps between the public’s demands and polices’ services on offer, and fostering public-police linkages and partnership for crime-free and just society.
To help ameliorate the public-police trust deficit, the endeavors aimed to propagate all those KP police reforms that have been taken (and even institutionalized while CRSS was publicizing them) over the last few years which were focused on benefiting the commoners and improve KP police’s public services on offer. This was mainly achieved through a radio advocacy campaign; series of syndicated radio programs across the districts of Peshawar, Mardan and Charsadda including 40 programs in each of these districts for the total of 121 radio shows. The radio shows were extremely inclusive in nature for several reasons. First for being participated by nearly 300 in-studio guests from different walks of life including police officials, community leaders, youth, women, lawyers, members of civil society, academia and intelligentsia etc. Second for 120 field based research reports/ radio reports produced to complement these radio shows. And third for a whopping 1,120 calls facilitated during the programs.
The television series was also an important strategic communication tool employed in this regard. This was an extremely significant intervention given the broadcast on Pakistan Television News (PTV). Airing TV shows through state broadcaster helped lending greater credibility to the discourse. The programs were participated by the senior most police officials in KP police who shared how the KP police was steadfastly reforming itself for improved accountability, transparency and operational autonomy. This included 10 TV shows on a variety of topics which are critical to the relation between public and police, with around 225 participants including audiences and speakers.
The print media was equally well utilized by the project to highlight the virtues of public-police partnership, address the trust deficit and also to mainstream the need for a community focused, accountable and friendly police force. This was achieved by publishing 25 Oped-Articles in the regional and national newspapers; written by prominent journalists. For the coverage of the consultations and public forums held as part of the project, 52 press-releases were also sent out for public notices, to the national and regional level newspapers; 26 each in Urdu and English which got covered by a whopping 150 newspapers and TV channels.
For dissemination through electronic social media, i) every single radio show was transcribed and uploaded on the CRSS social media accounts along with audio under the idea “Radio for Readers”. These radio shows reached out to 30,000 internet audiences online. ii) Same practice was adopted for TV shows which reached out to around 2,500 viewers online, iii) The cover stories for every single consultation, public forum, and opening and closing ceremonies were uploaded on CRSS website and social media. These 26 stories reached out to around 6,500 users online iii) Live-blogging; posting tweets of quotes from the live radio and TV shows has also been a standard operating procedure of the team. As a whole, this helped outreaching the online audience; thousands of users across the World Wide Web for extended impact.
For project activities visit:
The Young Democrats Academy
Project Partner: International Republican Institute (IRI), USA
Project Period: April 2015 to January 2016
The Young Democrats Academy (YDA) aimed at the provision of skills and political incentives for the new generation of politicians to pioneer enhanced standards of democratic governance at the constituency level. The YDA program comprised of 20 male and female Parliamentarians including Members of both the National and Provincial Assemblies under or around the age of 40 from all four (4) provinces of Pakistan.
The program ran through April 2015 to January 2016 in the constituencies in Charsada, Mardan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Karachi. This intervention was envisaged to balance and reflect the demand and the supply sides of democratic governance equation through the establishment of two way communication platforms to complement this unprecedented approach facilitating the dialogue between the voters and their elected representatives, ensuring enhanced accountability of parliamentarians and citizens’ active participation in the democratic processes.
For project activities visit:
Beyond Boundaries
Project Partner: British High Commission, Islamabad
Project Period: October 2015 to March 2016
The Center of Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in partnership with its Afghan counterpart organization DURAN Research and Analysis (DRA) and sub-national partner Foundation for Integrated Development Action (FIDA) successfully completed a BHC funded Pakistan- Afghanistan Track 1.5/ II project “Beyond Boundaries” as part of the efforts to help improve relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The project period spanned from October 2015 through March 2016.
Beyond Boundaries was implemented in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan, and the Government of Pakistan. The format for this Track II was of a workshop with selected experts from security, media, civil society, academics, and parliamentarians from both sides who addressed specific/selected themes in six workshops/meetings with presentations from respective sides followed by inter-active discussions. The Beyond Boundaries project comprised two Pak-Afghan working groups; Regional Security Groups and Regional Civil Society Groups. Both groups till the completion of the project had successfully held three meetings each in Islamabad/Bhurban and Kabul.
The key objectives of the initiative were: expanding the peace constituency through such friendship groups in both countries; improving support for better Afghanistan-Pakistan relationship through enhanced dialogue among the influential stakeholders; encouraging dialogues at various levels through official and unofficial communication channels; informing policy makers through forums, policy documents and media.
During the six meetings held under Beyond Boundaries, the working groups on regional security and civil society through these consultative workshops addressed varied themes important in the peace process between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which can eventually lead to the “peace constituency”. Beyond Boundaries was able to successfully bring together these influential government and non-governmental stake-holders to de-escalate the heightened tensions, address historical distrust and misconceptions, revive some level of confidence, and eventually urge both governments and key stakeholders away from the prior behavior of confrontation. It underscored the need to adopt more trust and collaborative-based approach for peace, security, and regional cooperation. The project also highlighted and uncovered core issues that remain ‘bone of contention’ between the two neighboring countries.
Beyond Boundaries with the implementing three-tier consortium partners successfully held three meetings of both the groups. Besides the one-to-one dialogues between both the groups during these workshops, the visits also included many high profile meetings with respective government officials, media, senior diplomats and other notables, on the sidelines. The meetings held during these six workshops were well received, facilitated, supported and appreciated at all levels by both governments.
The two working groups on regional civil society and regional security unanimously drafted and approved policy recommendations as “joint declarations” at the end of their respective meetings, producing six “joint declarations” from the same number of meetings. These joint declarations were shared at the highest levels of the two governments, including the Ambassadors of Pakistan and Afghanistan, CEO Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Afghanistan, Mr. Hekmat Karzai, and Federal Minster for Planning, Development and Reforms, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal.
For project activities visit:
Harnessing Future Leaders
Project Partner: United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington
Project Period: March 2015 to February 2016
Harnessing Future Leaders was a yearlong CRSS led youth leadership and development program, focusing in the Khyber Pukhtunkhwa province, in collaboration with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). CRSS had partnered with nine universities in the districts of Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowshera. Selected from these universities, CRSS worked with a group of 60 young individuals that demonstrated a proclivity for leadership.
CRSS conducted extensive training exercises focusing on fundamental human rights, secular governance, respect for diversity, equal citizenry, and the significance of rule of law in daily life. These participants then conducted practicum exercises with their host institutions and acted as information multipliers. The initial project completed in nine months including training of the students and exercises in the respective universities, and then last three were allocated and aimed at the students formulating and designing the Social Action Plans on the basis of the project focal issues of importance in their communal daily lives. The Social Action Plans were implemented in their host communities.
My Story, Our Voice – UNICEF
Project Partners: United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Pakistan/ Search for Common Ground (SFCG), Pakistan
Project Period: July 2014 to June 2015
CRSS in collaboration with the Search for Common Ground Pakistan (SFCG) Pakistan implemented the project “My Story, Our Voice” as a part of UNICEF’S Social Cohesion and Resilience (SCR) Program in the provinces of Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in the districts of Karachi, Rahim Yar Khan, and Swat. The project was aimed at using the all new Appreciative Inquiry (A.I.) approach. The intervention predominantly focused on the capacity building of young people to promote social cohesion and resilience across the respective vulnerable communities and be proactive agents of change.
The endeavor aimed to provide more innovative opportunities for learning and development outside of the classroom setting, and supports a process of transformation at multiple levels of society through which the young people came together to promote peace and unity through collective action for positive social change. This innovative approach complemented by the selection of youths/ adolescents from the programs’ focal areas was followed by the training sessions of selected youths. It then connected these youths with their respective communities through interpersonal dialogue sessions using the A.I. approach. The identified inspiring stories from the dialogues were encapsulated into the series of radio programs in the target districts which developed a common identity, and subsequently promoted social harmony and peaceful co-existence based on mutual respect. This program ran through July 2014 to June 2015 in the Phase 1.
Balochistan Kay Awam Ki Awaz (The Voice of Baloch People)
Project Partner: Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Development (DFATD), Government of Canada
Project Period: March 2014 to February 2015
CRSS worked on a project in Balochistan through a media advocacy campaign “ Balochistan Kay Awam Ki Awaz” (The Voice of Baloch People), a sequel to the successful CRSS first project Balochistan Youth Forum (BYF), completed in 2013. This phase of the project aimed to develop a democratic discourse on socio-political issues faced by the people of Balochistan. The CRSS produced and aired eight live/recorded shows each month which also included field based research stories by CRSS field journalists and live interactive calls. The objectives of this media advocacy in Balochistan were to propagate and promote de-radicalization, ensure fundamental human rights, political accountability and democratic discourse. These radio programs were also aired in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, to ensure wider transmission to other provinces to help create wider national media advocacy, on the objectives of the programs. The human resource created as a result of the success of BYF i.e. the youth leaders, also participated in these radio programs. The programs were aired through March 2014 to February 2015. The programs included an 11 month activity of approximately 180 research based field reports.
For BYF radio programs visit:
TV debate on FATA – Hum Bhi Pakistan (We Are Also Pakistan)
Project Partner: National Democratic Institute (NDI), USA
Project Period: May 2014 to December 2014
In May 2014, CRSS produced the first ever TV debate with a series of shows on the Past, Present, and Future of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) that were aired on National Television channels, both the state run Pakistan Television (PTV), and private TV Channels. The TV shows were titled: “Hum Bhi Pakistan” (We Are Also Pakistan).
This initiative proved to be a big leap forward in CRSS led drive for inclusive democracy and fundamental rights. Never before did FATA come under such focused and sustained debate involving leading stakeholders from within FATA, as well as those representing Pakistan mainstream political parties. The participants in the shows included as many as 40 parliamentarians, rights– activists, analysts, and academia as guest speakers, and the audience comprised of 60 male and female students from different regions of FATA.
The main focus of the related debate, discussions, and questions was on whether the people of FATA want to be part of Pakistan ruled by the Constitution of Pakistan, whether they want Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) repealed or amended, the role of FATA parliamentarians, the authoritarian Political Agent, development of FATA, and empowerment of women among other issues. This endeavor proved to be a first in the history of FATA political rights and advocacy, through which its problems, concerns, and future prospects were debated in a series of twenty TV shows.
To view TV Talk Shows visit:
Capacity Development of the Sindh Police (CDSP)
Project Partner: The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
Project Period: December 2013 to November 2014
The capacity development of the Sindh Police (CDSP) Project aimed at supporting the Sindh Police to professionalize its services in dealing with the citizenry, the judiciary, and the government. Launched in December 2013, it proved to be a mass publicity and advocacy campaign comprising consultative meetings with politicians, police officers, journalists, legal experts, prosecutors, civil society representatives, and public representatives, from both the interior and the urban parts of Sindh. Besides these interactive meeting sessions, the CRSS also designed and aired a number of TV Talk Shows, and Radio Programs.
This campaign advocated for the revision of Police Laws of 1861, by engaging all stakeholders and media representatives. In view of the worsening security situation in Sindh, particularly due to the daily targeted killings, and increased extortion, the capacity building initiative was aimed at a dire need for a robust professional, effective and efficient police force, which in turn can help strengthen citizen trust in the police.
The campaign was designed to create awareness through interactions and media outreach for the demand for professional police services amongst general public. As part of the program activities, public meetings, conferences, and “Otaq”(public debate, complaints, and resolution forums) meetings were organized in Karachi and Larkana, primarily to identify problems and shortcomings of the Police Department. The campaign aimed to reach out to maximum areas and maximum people through radio and TV talk shows, seminar and conferences, print and social media, Television spots, brochures and mounted posters, and meetings with media. Major national and local newspapers of Sindh including daily Express, daily Nawa-e-waqt, daily NayiBaat, Jahan Pakistan, and daily Dunya were among the newspapers that gave wide coverage to the activities.
The CRSS was able to bring major issues into spot light, giving an opportunity to all stakeholders to talk about problems such as the challenges faced by the police as well as their solutions, role of media in policing, role of police in striving for Rule of Law, and how trust could be built between the police, the public, and other stakeholders. The campaign focused not only to promote the need and demand for a professional, effective and efficient police force for Sindh, but also to strengthen ties and trust between the citizens and the police.
For project activities visit:
Governance, Community and Religion (GOCORE)
Project Partner: Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Germany
Project Period: April 2014 to November 2014
As a part of its counter-radicalization advocacy campaign for secular governance, the CRSS designed and organized a unique series of dialogues “Governance, Community and Religion (GOCORE)”, sequel to the first dialogue series “State, Religion and Democracy (SRD)”, in 2013 (See below under completed projects- SRD). GOCORE, with an expanded focus ran through April to November 2014.
During the series of dialogues which were held at different cities, Muslim scholars were invited from Islamic countries to participate in a discussion/ lecture series in different universities across Pakistan. Liberal Muslim scholars from multicultural societies in Americas/Europe were also invited to participate in these discussions/ lecture series of GOCORE. The focus of the discussions and lectures was to underscore the need for democratizing the state conduct and politics, promoting secular governance, to underpin the need for the separation of religion and politics, and how the public and private sectors are dealing with the challenges in these countries.
The visiting Muslim scholars shared their respective countries’ perspective on the theme and experience of dealing with the religiously diverse societies and ensuring religious freedoms as well as states’ impartiality and tolerance towards different religions, ethnic groups, and communities of different faiths. Through GOCORE and SRD, the CRSS has pioneered a debate on the issue that is rarely recognized, and is one that lies at the heart of many conflicts in Pakistan, where national discourse is colored more with the religious tenets, than the secular ideals of democracy and governance.
For GOCORE activities visit:
Support for Punjab Prosecution Service (SPPS)
Project Partner: The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
Project Period: December 2013 to May 2014
Through the Support for Punjab prosecution Services (SPPS) project, the CRSS engaged in highlighting and creating mass awareness, capacity building, and organizational development of the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (PCPS). This project aimed at developing and promoting an independent, efficient and effective prosecution service for the Punjab province. It grew out of the realization that the public at large must know its rights and responsibilities as envisaged in the Constitution.
Under the SPPS, through extensive research, advocacy, consultations with stakeholders, such as social rights experts, jurists and media campaigns, the CRSS took initiative to highlight the advantages and importance of an independently working prosecution service for the general public, both in the interior, and the urban Punjab. It also mobilized stakeholders, in particular media and civil society to support the development of an effective and efficient prosecution service, disseminated information to stakeholders and created mass awareness about important and relevant issues surrounding the prosecution service, and supported the development of a speedy and fair prosecution service.
The project helped to facilitate a series of interaction forums between police and judiciary to strengthen the prosecution service as an integral part of the Criminal Justice System. These interactions were carried out in the form of conferences, seminars, public meetings, and TV talk shows. Television spots, brochures, mounted posters. Newspaper columns in English and Urdu national dailies were also used for further sensitization of the issue and maximum outreach. The campaign was designed to reach out to all districts of the province including Mianwali, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Bahawalpur. Each exercise stressed upon different aspects of the objective through encouraging active dialogue on issues such as the importance of an independent prosecution service, the challenges faced by the prosecution service and role of different stakeholders, including media. Besides these interactive meeting sessions, the CRSS also designed and aired a number of TV Talk Shows, and Radio Programs.
The campaign has been effectively taken to the policy making level by engaging high level officers from concerned departments such as Prosecution Department and Human Rights Commission Pakistan.
For project activities visit:
Moong Qabail (We the Tribe)
Project Partner: Citizen Voice (USAID), Pakistan
Project Period: October 2013 to September 2014
“Moong Qabail” (We the Tribe) formed part of CRSS media advocacy and sensitization campaign on Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR), aiming for the provision of better human rights in FATA, and its implications for the people of the embattled tribal areas, and the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The project started in October 2013 and continued till September 2014.
The project involved two pronged interventions including seminars, and, media advocacy through radio programs. Focal cities for the seminars were Bannu, Kohat, Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar, with active participation of the tribal elders, intelligentsia, journalists, lawyers and civil society. The media advocacy component via radio waves endeavored to encourage the focal audiences/listeners to raise their voice for democratic rights forcefully and help them realize the power of collective campaigning for fundamental rights as equal citizens of Pakistan. The program objectives were aimed to nudge FATA residents to collectively pressurize policy-makers and representatives in the governance and parliamentary structures, increase the locals ownership of the campaign for equal rights, legal-administrative reforms, and promoting the political reforms discourse at the federal level.
The purpose of these interventions was to create space and lobby of accountability mechanism for FATA officials, sensitize officials of FATA Secretariat, FATA Parliamentarians, and Government Agencies to stop opposing the abolition of old legal-administrative structures and help bringing in much needed reforms.
State, Religion and Democracy
Project Partner: Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Germany
Project Period: April 2013 to January 2014
In view of Pakistan’s deepening identity crisis and increasing tendency among all and sundry to view politics through the religious prism, the CRSS held a series of dialogue, from April 2013 to January 2014, on the primary theme of separation of State, Religion and Democracy (SRD) in partnership with Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Germany. The objective of this initiative was to trigger a debate on the need for secularizing governance. International participants included scholars and intellectuals from Turkey, Malaysia and Indonesia, as part of this dialogue.
The program was designed to have a series of interactive and participatory dialogue/ lectures of the international participants at leading Pakistani universities, with a focus to explain to the students, youth men and women, who will become future leaders of Pakistan as to how their respective governments are coping with the need for secular governance and the pressures emanating from religious radicalization and apologists.
For SRD project activities visit:
Olasi Adalat (People Court)
Project Partner: PloughShares Fund, USA
Project Period: July 2013 to March 2014
The CRSS, as a part of its campaign to promote and create awareness about democratic norms, counter religious extremist/militant narrative of intolerance, bigotry and violence, and the influence of radicalization among Pushtoon youth, initiated a series of radio programs called “Olasi Adalat” (People Court) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A community-focused narrative on democracy, religion, governance, and more importantly on the need for accountability of the government and public representatives, is an important element in a society where the elected representative and the masses rarely connect with each other.
Radio shows are a unique electronic media tool for media advocacy and intervention for counter-radicalization and democratization of thought processes and paradigms. An educated and correctly informed youth is critical to democracy and this same belief has been the focal objective of CRSS media advocacy through radio programs. “Olasi Adalat” served the purpose of educating youth on democracy, governance, accountability, and the role of the state institutions, particularly the parliaments and their representatives.
A total of 106 radio programs were aired from July 2013 to March 2014, through private radio stations FM 101 Peshawar, AM 1260 Peshawar, and FM 93 Dera Ismail Khan. These shows facilitated in promoting a democratic discourse, trigger critical thinking and create social space for a counter-radicalization narrative in the militancy stricken and religious extremism prone areas.
Balochistan Youth Forum (BYF)
Project Partner: Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Pakistan
Project Period: November 2012 to January 2013
Balochistan Youth Forum (BYF) was a part of CRSS counter-radicalization advocacy and youth leadership skill development campaign in the embattled province of Balochistan. The purpose of BYF was to build intellectual and leadership capacity of the often disgruntled Baloch youth, and to sensitize them on the need to positively work and struggle towards their rights, rather than rebellion or subversion. The project was initiated in November 2012 and ran through January 2013.
The project aimed to connect the Baloch youth leaders with the students from other parts of Pakistan, to provide them an opportunity to share their grievances through informed debate and dialogue, and harness their leadership skills. Two weekly shows formed an important component of BYF to impress the need for democratizing political discourse in Balochistan, it also helped in providing the Baloch youth with an opportunity to be heard in and outside Balochistan. The program comprised on-ground leadership development interventions, sensitization, awareness activities, and media advocacy through seven radio stations in and outside Balochistan.
For BYF project activities visit:
Support for Conflict Transformation and Peacemaking (SCTP) in Pakistan
Project Partner: Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS), Germany
Project Period: March 2012 to February 2013
With the support of the Heinrich Boll Stiftung, the CRSS in 2012 carried out an advocacy campaign for conflict transformation and peacemaking in Pakistan, with special focus on Balochistan. The project created awareness among stakeholders for transforming conflicts in Pakistan, and ways to move towards peace. Moreover, it proved as a stepping stone for CRSS to undertake socio-political awareness in the conflict-hit Balochistan province.
Da Aman Awaz (Voice for Peace)
Project Partner: United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington
Project Period: June 2012 to May 2013
Promoting peace education among citizens living in conflict hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and FATA has been one of the primary goals of the CRSS. To achieve this goal, the CRSS in 2012 initiated a syndicated radio program “Da Aman Awaz” (Voice for Peace). The radio campaign served as counter narrative to extremist radio propaganda with the help of a blend of alternative, moderate information and cultural entertainment that the religious extremists abhor as anti-Islam.
The program endeavored to bring about a positive communal behavioral change, particularly among the youth and women, with the help of an educated discourse based on the values of peace, social pluralism, tolerance, co-existence and social harmony. References from religion, real life local stories, tales from other societies, and cultures were endorsed to underline the brighter side of religion. The project focused on moderate listeners as well as vulnerable groups i.e. youth and women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA.
The CRSS is continuously struggling to counter extremism and radicalization, with a focus to encourage youth, build their trust in state institutions, and motivate them through radio shows.
Social Cohesion Analysis of Pakistan
Project Partner: United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), Pakistan
Project Period: November 2012 to April 2013
The CRSS undertook a national social cohesion and resilience conflict analysis for UNICEF to help the UN understand the power, social and conflict dynamics of Pakistan, and submitted the final report.
CRSS-ActionAid Campaign for Implementation of Balochistan Rights– Package
Project Partner: Action-Aid, Pakistan
Project Period: May 2011 to November 2011
As a part of an advocacy policy for effective implementation of the Balochistan Package announced by the Government of Pakistan in 2011, both the CRSS and the Action-Aid carried out six roundtables, two policy dialogues, two columns in English press, four electronic media insertions, eight press releases, one joint resolution and one open letter to government officials for the following objectives: a) put across the peoples perspective on the conflict situation in Balochistan; and b) build bottom-up pressure for the effective implementation of the Balochistan Rights– Package.
Clean Drinking Water for the Flood Affectees of Charsadda and Nowshera
Project Partner: Royal Embassy of Netherlands, Islamabad
Project Period: September 2010 to April 2011
The CRSS installed 20 Clean Water Points (CWP) at 20 locations in two flood affected districts of Charsadda and Nowshera, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in response to the massive floods in 2010. The initiative provided the affected communities with clean drinking water and educated them on the subject of maintenance of basic hygiene and potential dangers of water borne diseases. The project was implemented in two phases.
First, the water pumps were physically installed after consultations with the local community for its maintenance and subsequent ownership to ensure sustainability. Secondly, members of the community were apprised with the simple and home-based techniques to avoid water contamination and prevention of water borne diseases. Various advocacy tools e.g. pamphlets, graphical posters, and interactive sessions were held with the community groups. Prior to the installation of the units, community mobilizers were sent to form citizens groups from within the local community for subsequent smooth operation and ownership by the people.
Media as a Tool in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (MTCRR)
Project Partner: Peace and Development Program, UNDP
Project Period: April 2011 to August 2011
The MTCRR was a pilot, micro level case study taken up in 2011 that was meant to provide qualitative insights into the experiences and feelings of a small segment of the population of Swat with regards to the reign of terror unleashed by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the efficacy of state media in countering the Taliban propaganda and promoting peace. It was based on a random opinion survey ‘Media as a Tool in Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation’ that was conducted in two “mohallas” (localities) in the Union Council of Qambar, District Swat. The survey was meant to gauge the opinions of, and the influences on the female population of the broadcasts aired by the Taliban and the state.
Discussion Forums/ Debate on Security and Governance
Project Partner: Henrich Boll Stiftung (HBS), Germany
Project Period: January 2009 to December 2011
The CRSS initiated the concept of conducting a series of “Discussion Forums”, a feature of advocacy and awareness campaign held at the Center. These forums continued from 2009 to 2011, and a total of forty forums were held, mostly on a monthly basis, increased to twice monthly at times when prevailing current situation demanded so. The forums/ consultations were designed and aimed at debate on security and governance, and covered interactive and open discussions on current prevailing important national and international issues during the period, with the prime objective of collecting opinions and comments from various stakeholders.
The forums participants included leading politicians, policy makers, renowned intellectuals and members from academia, serving and former diplomats, retired civil and military bureaucrats, media representatives, NGO representatives, and civil society. These forums/ consultations underscored the CRSS commitment to civil society dialogue, social awareness, and an endeavor to disseminating new ideas and analysis on national and regional issues.
All the discussion forums were compiled annually in a form of a CRSS publication for 2009, 2010, and 2011. These documents served as a useful reference guide on evolving socio- political issues as well as those policy matters which keep the public and private sectors engaged. The CRSS through this project and compilations hopes to have put together a useful and good reference document on various contemporary issues which researchers in particular would find useful for their work on the internal and external issues surrounding Pakistan.
For Discussion Forum publications visit:
Assessment of US Anti-terror Campaign in Afghanistan
Project Partner: United States Institute of Peace (USIP), Washington
Project Period: July 2010
In partnership with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), the CRSS in July 2010 arranged three seminars and one consultative session on issues relating to the ongoing US-led anti-terror campaign in Afghanistan, peace prospects in the region, and dynamics of the Pak-US and the Pak-India relationship. People belonging to diverse backgrounds including, civil and military bureaucracy, diplomats, independent researchers, academia and government representatives, participated in the events, making the debates meaningful and productive. The sessions served as platforms for the civil society representatives to discuss the critical issues facing Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and US. These events were of great value especially for students of various universities in concerned cities.
Comparing Best Practices in Freedom for Information
Project Partner: The Asia Foundation (TAF), Pakistan
Project Period: August 2009 to February 2010
The CRSS in partnership with The Asia Foundation (TAF), gauged the context and scope of freedom of information (FOI) in Pakistan. As part of this initiative a number of seminars, workshops, and roundtable conferences, and public awareness campaign through media outreach were conducted from August 2009 to February 2010. Media outreach and advocacy included four TV talk shows, radio public service announcements, and coverage in leading English, and Urdu dailies.
A comparative study was carried out among contemporary status of freedom of information in Pakistan, and other three South Asian states: India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, along the lines of the Commonwealth Model Bill for Freedom of Information. The roundtable discussion forums and seminars were arranged to solicit the opinion of civil society organizations in Pakistan, working on human rights issues, and especially on the freedom of information. The government incorporated FOI in Article 19 as a fundamental right in the 18th Amendment.
For CRSS FOI Publication visit:
Partners:
Australian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade
United States Institute of Peace (USIP) Washington
Search for Common Grounds (SFCG), Pakistan
International Republican Institute (IRI), USA
UNICEF
Citizens’ Voice Project, USAID
Canadian Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFATD, formerly CIDA)
National Democratic Institute (NDI) USA
German Agency for International Cooperation- GIZ
Embassy of Switzerland
Embassy of the Netherlands
Action-Aid
The Asia Foundation
UNDP
PloughShares Fund, USA
British High Commission
Heinrich BöllStiftung