Current Projects
Pakistan: What Stands In CPEC’s Way?
When Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled the blueprint for the enormous $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project last year, Pakistan was understandably pleased. The Pakistani government considers the project a game changer for its fragile economic structure. This exhilaration partly stems from the country’s wobbly economic performance in recent years, which has seen it fall short of GDP and other financial targets. The project has also elevated Islamabad’s strategic partnership with the regional superpower. CPEC is viewed as a lifeline for Pakistan, yet three potential obstacles could yet derail this multifaceted project. Provincial Resentment in Pakistan A lack of domestic consensus can hinder development in any part of the world, and CPEC is no exception. When CPEC was initially introduced, every mainstream political party supported it, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN-N). However, the enthusiasm turned to deep concern when political parties from economically weak provinces (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan) felt that their province’s reservations about CPEC were not being addressed. This was well described by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak, who said, “It is not a western route but merely a road, because it has no such infrastructure that would improve the condition of neglected provinces such as KP, Baluchistan and Gilgit-Baltistan.” Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already twice chaired an All Parties Conference to address provincial grievances and has formed a committee to tackle the issues. Regional parties from KPK (Tehreek-i-Insaf, Jamat Islami & Awami National Party) and Baluchistan (Baluchistan National Party-Mengal) have also organized APCs to discuss the provincial concerns. The debate has become so heated that China has felt it necessary to put out a statement urging parties to overcome their differences. A spokesman from the Chinese embassy in Islamabad said: “Relevant parties...
Annual Security Report 2015
Compiling and contrasting the data on various forms of violence between 2013 and 2015, this annual report examines various aspects of militancy and the outcome of counter-militancy strategies being pursued by the country under the National Action Plan (NAP) and the counter-terror Zarb-e-Azb operation. To evaluate and assess the marked decline in violence, this report scrutinizes all incidents of violence, number of fatalities of anti-state actors, their victims, the identity of the victims and claimants of crime. It also reviews new methods of criminality and militancy that non-state actors deployed during the last three years and how terror and violence affect citizen’s lives. All assessments and reviews are based on open source data, mostly national print and electronic media. CRSS endeavors to ensure that the data is as accurate as possible within the available resources. However, it does not rule out errors and omissions, which are always a possibility in such statistical work. Such mistakes, nevertheless, do not grossly affect the overall outcome and conclusions of this report. Readers can approach CRSS for information related to this report. Alternately, you may want send your queries to mail@crss.pk, directly to Mohammad Nafees, Senior Research Fellow, CRSS – the author of the report (nafees@crss.pk) or Zeeshan Salahuddin, Senior Research Fellow (zeeshan@crss.pk). Download
Sindh Assembly Approves Hindu Marriage Bill
Senior PPP leader and Sindh Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Nisar Ahmad Khuhro moved the bill in the provincial assembly which was later passed after a debate between the opposition and treasury benches. The bride and groom cannot be less than 18 years, according to the text of the approved draft. Married couples will be required to obtain a marriage registration certificate, while a couple can also face fines in case their marriage is not registered. Zoroastrians and Sikhs will also be able to register their marriages under the new law. Hindus, despite being the second-largest religious minority group in Pakistan, with a population of 3.3 million, had no legal mechanism to register marriages. Unlike the Muslim majority or Christians, Hindus lacked any legal framework for protection of their marriages and are unable to provide legal proof when required. Hindu women have had to face problems in proving their relationships when dealing with officialdom, while widows were particularly disadvantaged. Without official proof of relationships, getting government documents issued or moving forward on any other activity which involves documentation — from opening bank accounts to applying for visas — became next to impossible for any citizen. After the 18th Amendment, the issues of religious minorities and their family matters became provincial subjects but the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies passed resolutions allowing the federation to legislate Hindu marriage law. A similar resolution is pending in the Punjab Assembly. A draft bill has already been passed by the National Assembly standing committee on law and justice, while Senator Nasreen Jalil, the chairperson of the Senate standing committee on law and justice, has also convened a meeting of the committee to take up the matter. A clause in the draft Hindu Marriage Bill, which states that a marriage will be annulled if any of the spouses converts to another religion, is being vehemently...
India’s Cast System: Untouchables/Muslims at the receiving end
In October 1931, Gandhi said of Ambedkar that “he has every right to be bitter. That he does not break our heads is an act of self-restraint on his part.” Meaning that given the background of the atrocities against him and his communities, Ambedkar was entitled to be harsh with his words. I thought of that as another college protest has attracted the ruling party’s anger. In Delhi, police have registered charges of sedition against students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) over an event protesting the hanging of Afzal Guru. Sedition is the “the crime of saying, writing, or doing something that encourages people to disobey their government”. The FIR was lodged by the BJP MP from East Delhi, Maheish Girri, who in a written complaint called the students “anti-constitutional and anti-national elements”. Girri also wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, telling them “strict action should be taken against the offenders so that such shameful and anti-India activities are not repeated”. This is a repeat of the sequence in Hyderabad where the BJP acted strongly against students protesting the hanging of another man, Yakub Memon. That episode ended with the tragedy of one of the students hanging himself. JNU, which says it had not approved the event, has set up a committee to inquire but again, the same problem of representation has arisen. The students’ union says there is no member on it from marginalised communities. There was a choice here for the BJP. Instead of throwing the book at the students, it could have shown some understanding of the issue, which is linked to caste directly. Why are dalits protesting against hangings in Hyderabad? Why is the focus on Muslims at JNU? Why are the students insisting on representation from marginalised communities when they are being judged by a committee? The fact is that India reserves the death penalty mostly for dalits and Muslims. A study that will be published later this...
India's Cast System: Untouchables/Muslims at the receiving end
In October 1931, Gandhi said of Ambedkar that “he has every right to be bitter. That he does not break our heads is an act of self-restraint on his part.” Meaning that given the background of the atrocities against him and his communities, Ambedkar was entitled to be harsh with his words. I thought of that as another college protest has attracted the ruling party’s anger. In Delhi, police have registered charges of sedition against students at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) over an event protesting the hanging of Afzal Guru. Sedition is the “the crime of saying, writing, or doing something that encourages people to disobey their government”. The FIR was lodged by the BJP MP from East Delhi, Maheish Girri, who in a written complaint called the students “anti-constitutional and anti-national elements”. Girri also wrote to Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, telling them “strict action should be taken against the offenders so that such shameful and anti-India activities are not repeated”. This is a repeat of the sequence in Hyderabad where the BJP acted strongly against students protesting the hanging of another man, Yakub Memon. That episode ended with the tragedy of one of the students hanging himself. JNU, which says it had not approved the event, has set up a committee to inquire but again, the same problem of representation has arisen. The students’ union says there is no member on it from marginalised communities. There was a choice here for the BJP. Instead of throwing the book at the students, it could have shown some understanding of the issue, which is linked to caste directly. Why are dalits protesting against hangings in Hyderabad? Why is the focus on Muslims at JNU? Why are the students insisting on representation from marginalised communities when they are being judged by a committee? The fact is that India reserves the death penalty mostly for dalits and Muslims. A study that will be published later this...
Making sense of the CPEC Controversy — III
by Rafiullah Kakar In my previous articles on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, I deconstructed the government’s claims about having prioritised the western route of the project as well as critically examined the various justifications advanced by those defending the prioritisation of the eastern route. In the concluding part of this series of articles, I aim to examine the way our public policy is developed and the trade-off that often occurs between concerns for equity and those for efficiency. Specifically, I will deconstruct the public policy paradigm underlying the arguments advanced in favour of the eastern route. Public policies aimed at regional development have traditionally tended to focus on the trade-off between equity and efficiency. Most of the arguments advanced to justify the prioritisation of the eastern route of the CPEC are based on the technocratic efficiency-based criterion. There are three major flaws in this line of reasoning. First, the efficiency-based criterion ignores the history of past injustices and the absence of a level playing field between the developed and the lagging regions of the country. Pakistan inherited regional inequality from the colonial period. The British had strategic interests in contemporary Balochistan, Fata and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and therefore developed only the infrastructure that was vital for defence logistics. In contrast, they had deep economic and political interests in Punjab and Sindh. The infrastructure developed in these regions favoured agricultural growth and industrialisation. After Pakistan’s creation, the post-colonial ruling elite did very little to undo economic and political inequality among the different ethnic groups and regions. Power asymmetries among ethno-regional groups reinforced regional disparities and ensured that resource distribution remained biased in favour of Punjab. The fact that Pakhtun representation in the military and the bureaucracy significantly increased and...
Sabawoon Showcase: Regional review on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA)
February 9, 2016, Peshawar: The Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) flagship radio program Sabawoon’s latest episode reviewed the security situation of the educational institutions in KP. The second part of the program focused on psychological stresses on the students, after terrorist attacks on Army Public School (APS) Peshawar and Bacha Khan University (BKU) Charsadda, lack of women and minorities’ participation in electoral system, and the development schemes in FATA’s Khyber Agency. The program, under the theme ‘Da Simi Jaaj’ (regional view), was aired on Tuesday. Mr. Muhammad Fahad Khan, District Nazim Charsadda, took part as a guest via telephone. Four reports were made part of the program from the districts of Charsadda, Peshawar, Swat and Khyber Agency. The first report shared the details about the security situation in the Government Girls High School (GGHS) Aziz Khail, Charsadda, and its impact on the students. Ms. Johar Taaj, Principal, GGHS said, “The boundary wall of the school has collapsed, due to which we are always in fear. I have requested relevant authorities, but I have not received any response yet. Students have a constant fear of a terrorist attack, due to which many students don’t come to attend the classes.” A student of this school, Ms. Zuhra, said, “If the government is not able to allocate funds for us, they should let us know, so that we will start a fundraising campaign to solve this issue.” Mr. Ikram Khan, a father of four daughters, who are all studying in GGHS, said, “I cannot send my daughters to their school because of the security reason. When they are in school, I am constantly praying for their safe return.’’ The second report emphasized the impacts of terrorist attacks on APS Peshawar and BKU Charsadda. These attacks are the reason of psychological stress in the students, which does not allow them to attend their school, colleges, and universities. Ms. Munawar, a school teacher, said, “We have become...
CRSS China Watch – February 12, 2016
In a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce, it was stressed by the commerce minister that Pakistan seeks to sign the quadrilateral accord with China, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to reach Central Asia.[1] He said that bilateral trade relations with Afghanistan were not developing in a progressive way. Afghan government’s reaction towards the drafts of Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Transit Trade Agreement (TTA) was disappointing. However, the government of Pakistan is bound to revive its trade relations under that quadrilateral accord without depending on Afghanistan, who intends to include India in the agreement, an unacceptable term for Pakistan. The government has also reserved Rs. 6 billion for smooth implementation of trade policy measures.[2] In Qatar, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif referred to the growing economy of Pakistan while addressing a gathering of Pakistani expats. He said that various projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) will bring regional prosperity.[3] ____________________________________________________________________________ [1] http://tribune.com.pk/story/1045184/govt-seeks-to-revive-trade-deal-with-china-central-asia/ [2] http://www.brecorder.com/market-data/stocks-a-bonds/0/15383/ [3] http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/cpec-project-will-bring-prosperity-in-entire-region-pm/
Sabawoon Showcase: Negative Impact of Pashtu CD Dramas and Films on viewers.
February 8, 2016, Peshawar: The Center for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) flagship radio program Sabawoon’s latest episode focused on the negative influence of Pashtu CD dramas and films on the viewers. Moreover, the program discussed domestic violence and the degrading of women. The reformation of the screening council and censorship board was also highlighted. The program was aired under the theme “Jarga Marraka” (debate and council). Mr. Jamal Nasir, a director and filmmaker of Pashtu dramas, and Mr. Ghulam Mehmood Shahab, a senior broadcaster and actor, were the guests. A report on the program’s central shared the views of the public, artists, filmmakers and students. Mr. Nimat Khan, a local elder, said, “Pashtu CD dramas and films are one of the main reasons that spread violence, terror, and promote the use of drugs.” Mr. Iftikhar Khan, a drama writer, said, “These films and dramas are produced for business only, and have nothing to do with the Pashtun culture. In the long run, it can prove to be dangerous for our youngsters, as it has a direct impact on them due to the easy availability. Another local elder, Mr. Shakir Ullah, said, “These dramas and films have nothing to do with literature and recreation, and rather these frustrate the viewers. Whatever is depicted in these dramas and films is entirely opposite to Pashtun culture.” A total of six callers participated in the show. They demanded that the government ban these films and dramas and that a screening council for content and quality check should be reinstated. A caller on the show, Mr. Aziz Rehman Marwat, said, “There is a dire need for the government to establish a screening department to monitor the quality of audio and video production, because the producer’s concern is business related.” Another caller, Mr. Dill Jan Khan, said, “Some of the dramas and films are promoting the use of guns, which spread violence among youth. The youth is the target audience of these productions.” A third...
Beyond Boundaries
Positive Messaging Essential to Help Complex Afghan Peace Process: Foreign Secretary Pakistan’s foreign secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry says the speed with which the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) has moved reflects the commitment of all stakeholders to the Afghan peace and reconciliation. In a meeting with the Afghan members of the civil society, currently visiting Pakistan as part of the Beyond Boundaries – Pak-Afghan Track II/1.5 initiative undertaken by an Islamabad based Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), the chief diplomat said that Pakistan believes in a sovereign, united, prosperous, peaceful Afghanistan. This is in the interest of the entire region and that is why Pakistan together with the US and China is doing its best to help Afghans achieve the goal of peace and stability. “Hope and faith in the process as well as in Pakistan’s sincerity in the peace efforts will work better than continuous blame-game and skepticism”, Mr. Chaudhry added while underlining that you could inspire confidence only by staying positive. "Pakistan has developed a complete national consensus to counter-terrorism. The state of Pakistan is determined to deal with all those militants across the board who are killing innocent women and children both in Pakistan and Afghanistan". With regard to peace process in Afghanistan, the foreign secretary said "We must, sequence the process and take a step-by-step approach rather than coming up with pre-conditions by either side in an extremely complex and difficult process”. Pointing to the aggravated security situation, factional divisions and emergence of Daesh, Mr. Chaudhry said these factors posed big challenge to the QCG process but hoped that given the resolve of all four countries, they were not insurmountable. The foreign secretary also gave the Afghan delegation a run-down of the QCG meetings held so far and hoped its concerted efforts would result in direct intra-Afghan talks sooner than later. In that...
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I am also a member of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting. Recently, we held a meeting with the Director General of Radio Pakistan and we told them to initiate such local programs (like Constituency Hour) in regional languages to educate and inform people. Even Indian Radio can be heard in FATA which is being used for propaganda purposes and must be closed. Therefore, we should launch some standard and quality programs like CRSS that will change the taste of the listeners.