Topic: Basic Human Rights, FCR vs. Constitution and International Laws/Obligations Hosts: Mr. Imtiaz Gul and Dr. Farah Farooq Guests:           Senator Farhat ullah Babar,  PPP Senator Afrasiab Khattak, ANP Asif Husnain, MQM Member, FATA Committee Shahab-ud-din Khan, MNA PML- N Tribal Area               Producer: Muhammad Intisar ul Haq Theme: This show provides viewers with an overview of fundamental human rights under the FCR. To debate whether clauses given under Article 247 Administration of Tribal Areas are enough or need further explanation for improved implementation for the welfare of the people of FATA? Are the FCR regulations in sync with fundamental rights available to other citizens of Pakistan? In addition, the show  focuses  on political, civic and human rights obligations relating to FATA with the aim of highlighting  the need for ensuring “Equal Citizenry” for all citizens of Pakistan – as promised in the Chapter one of the constitution; equal rights for the people of FATA being the main focus in this regard.    Please watch the program Hum Bhi and share your feedback on 

Topic: Obstacles and Opponents to FATA Mainstreaming and Reforms Hosts: Mr. Imtiaz Gul and Ms. Farah Farooq Guests: Former KPK Governor, Barrister  Syed Masood Kausar Professor Ijaz Khatak, International Relations, University of Peshawar Khalid Aziz, Ex Chief Secretary KPK and Former Political Agent Hamid ullah Jan, Ex Federal Minister Producer: Muhammad Intisar ul Haq Theme: This show focuses on whether piecemeal reforms in an oppressive system can bring socio-political change in FATA or not. It also addresses the question; why not mainstream FATA instead of doing what the forces of status quo are trying to preserve? And what is the role of the political parties in FATA where the system is founded on the draconian powers of the political agent and 35,000 Maliks who wish to maintain the status quo? Please watch the program Hum Bhi and share your feedback on 

Topic: “What is the Future of FATA?” Hosts: Mr. Imtiaz Gul and Ms.Farah Farooq Guests: •        Mr. Shams Mohmand, (CRSS) Journalist •        Mr. Mukhtar Bachaa, Member FATA Committee •        Shah Jee Gul Afidi,  MNA Tribal Area •        Malik Akbar Khan, North Waziristan, Candidate National Assembly 2013 Producer: Muhammad Intisar ul Haq Theme: This show reviews the future status of FATA. The participants will debate and discuss means and measures required to mainstream FATA with the rest of Pakistan. This is considered important for not only improving the lives of the people in FATA but also to curb and deal with the problem of terrorism emanating from there. Please watch the program Hum Bhi and share your feedback on 

The alarming unraveling of circumstances in and around Iraq – the declaration of the caliphate by the new goliath of jihadists – al Baghdadi – and shocking fissures that Pakistan is experiencing internally underscore a stark, bitter reality: using religion as a political instrument entails unavoidable, debilitating, unintended consequences. Clearly, both the United States and Pakistan seem to be getting a taste of their own medicine; the former witnessing in awe a dramatically pulsating Middle East, including the endless violence in Syria, Iraq and Libya – a direct consequence of its geo-political ambitions that arose from a desire of bleeding the Soviet Union and promoting American geo-commercial interests across the globe. Pakistan, on the other hand, is embroiled in multiple crises – rooted primarily in a myopic, megalomaniac and at best a delusionary view of the world. It is ironic, though not unexpected, that the military establishment dreamed of securing military strategic space in Afghanistan through its proxies. It is now scared to death that the same proxies are either biting back or providing strategic space to those the army is fighting in Pakistan, and if they returned to power, could once again take Pakistani militants of all hue and colour under their wings – the way they did in the dark 1990s. Seeking strategic depth in Afghanistan has turned out to be like digging one’s own grave. It has hollowed out Pakistan socio-economically and polarized it politically. Cultivating and condoning relations with non-state actors represents a fatal blunder and its consequence is the biggest challenge to the country’s social cohesion, peace and security. The Afghan Haqqani Network represents one such non-state actor. Spread all over the greater Paktia Region (Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Logar and Kunar), the Network draws on recruits from the largest Zadran tribe that is settled in the Pakistani Waziristan region too. Jalaluddin Haqqani’s entire extended family has...

Topic:  Strengthen Economic Development, Education and Health System in FATA Hosts Mr. Imtiaz Gul and Ms. Farah Farooq Guests: •        Musarrat Ahmad Zeb, MNA PTI Sawat •        Dr. Farooq Muhammad,  PPP Mohmand •        Mr. Abdul Jalil Jan, JUI F Sec. Information KPK FATA Committee Member •        Sahabzada Haroon-ur-Rasheed. Jamat-e-Islami Producer: Muhammad Intisar ul Haq Theme: FATA lags behind in economic development, education and health infrastructure. Most of the funds allocated in the name of development schemes are skimmed off by officials and colluding FATA representatives. This show discusses possible measures for the uplift of FATA and also explores the possibility of ensuring financial transparency in development projects. How to promote education in FATA which has one of the lowest literacy rates in Pakistan? What steps to follow to bring economic development in the area and how to improve healthcare, especially the containing of the spread of polio virus? Over 80 percent of 66 polio cases until May 2014 were reported from FATA, the bulk of it coming from Waziristan. Please watch the program Hum Bhi and share your feedback on 

Pakistan’s infant National Internal Security Policy (NISP) promises to build a counter-narrative. Most officials began parroting the same theme, realising little that constructing a counter-narrative requires the existence of a narrative, which does not exist. And neither do officials nor ministers offer a coherent national narrative on issues such as militancy, the Taliban or the war against terrorism. Whose war are we fighting? Is the United States a friend or foe? Tragically, what we have is a conflation of viewpoints as put out by the civilian and military leadership, reflecting often confused, apologetic approaches and intellectual poverty within the governing structures. Another top-down obstacle in the way of a national narrative is the lack of understanding of the issues of even those officials responsible for counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency. Clear identification of the causes of terrorism and the insurgency is missing, hence leading to a muddled response. The absence of a clear and candid state narrative on relations with neighbouring India or the US, or the need for fighting non-state actors has only weakened the state. Non-state actors prey on the government’s confusion, disunity between army and the civilians, disconnect between the state and the society, and the omnipresent sense of insecurity (physical, food, electricity, inflation). High-profile talks with the TTP are a case in point; Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan stood out as a sympathiser of the dialogue — evident from the hue and cry he raised — over the death of Hakimullah Mehsud on November 1 last year. Most of the cabinet sided with the prime minister and the army, but the interior minister thought they blew holes in his strategy. Senior officials, who attended national security meetings, speak of the “indecision and absence of consensus” among key stakeholders with Nisar believing that the army was once again taking the lead by forcing the government into accepting its advance...