The 1901 Frontier Crimes Regulation(FCR) governing the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) remains an aberration in the age of cyberspace. It is a set of laws that was essentially a replication of the British-era magistracy system, but with a Political Agent (PA) at the centre who these laws turn him into the uncrowned king of the agency under his control. The PA control extends into the agency through the privileged class of Maliks ¶ about 35,000 of them officially hold the title of Malik and serve as the bridge between the PA and the tribes. Residents of Fata got the right of adult franchise in 1997 and the Political Parties Act was extended to it before the 2013 general elections to allow political parties to participate from there. But this hardly changes the reality ¶ that extremely wealthy people in Fata buy votes for the National Assembly or the Senate. It also remains a fact that while being part of the parliament, these MNAs cannot influence governance or legislation in their respective areas. Also, what is more ironic is that by the virtue of the FCR, these MNAs are virtually subject to the will of their respective political agents, who can place them under house arrest, banish them, or even have their properties demolished or seized. Why? Because the FCR empowers the PA to do so even if he has the slightest suspicion that a particular individual has or is about to commit a crime. This is one of the 50 or so regulations that arm the PA with absolute authority. The penalties that the PA imposes on tribes or individuals or the funds he gets from the federal government for his respective area are also essentially never audited. And that is why every new recruit to the civil service vies for the PA position, particularly in the Khyber Agency. The dominant majority of Fata residents demand that the FCR be abolished and the tribal area be brought under the Constitution. They question then, the value of Fata MNAs and what work they do ¶ apart from...

Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) organized a discussion on 'Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR)'with the student community at the Institute of Management Sciences (IMS) Peshawar on April 24, 2014. The discussion started with a documentary on the history, imposition, implementation and consequences of the FCR on the people of FATA. The showing was followed by inquiring from the students about their experience with the FCR while living in FATA. The students regretted being part of the draconian and inhuman law, while at the same time held the government responsible for not taking adequate and meaningful measures to repeal the FCR. Executive Director Imtiaz Gul of CRSS while speaking to FATA students on this occasion said that this debate on the legality of FCR has been initiated to provide the people and youth of FATA an opportunity to discuss and envision the system they deem could be best to safeguard their, social, economic, political as well as legal interests. He said societies cannot remain stagnated forever and it time for the tribal people to move forward towards peace, progress and development.

Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) organized a discussion on 'Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR)'with the student community at the Institute of Management Sciences (IMS) Peshawar on April 24, 2014. The discussion started with a documentary on the history, imposition, implementation and consequences of the FCR on the people of FATA. The showing was followed by inquiring from the students about their experience with the FCR while living in FATA. The students regretted being part of the draconian and inhuman law, while at the same time held the government responsible for not taking adequate and meaningful measures to repeal the FCR. Executive Director Imtiaz Gul of CRSS while speaking to FATA students on this occasion said that this debate on the legality of FCR has been initiated to provide the people and youth of FATA an opportunity to discuss and envision the system they deem could be best to safeguard their, social, economic, political as well as legal interests. He said societies cannot remain stagnated forever and it time for the tribal people to move forward towards peace, progress and development.

The speakers at a seminar on 'Rule of Law and Counter-Terrorism ´ Roles of Public and Private Sectors' on Monday called for comprehensive legal reforms to ensure rule of law in the country and deal with radicalization, extremism and terrorism. The seminar was organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS). Chairman of Stockwell Green Community Services (SGCS) Mr. Toaha Qureshi MBE, Expert on International Law, Mr. Ahmer Bial Soofi, Ex-MNA Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, former DG Intelligence Bureau and expert on Criminal Justice and Police Reforms Dr. Shoaib Suddle and CRSS Executive Director Mr. Imtiaz Gul addressed the seminar. Giving the UK perspective on counter-radicalization and rule of law, Mr. Toaha said it was not possible to establish the rule of law without police, judiciary and the community working together in support of each other. He said the efforts in the United Kingdom to deal with radicalization had started much before the 9/11 with police and community working as partners to counter radicalization, extremism and terrorism. 'Identification of issues is the first step to handle radicalization,' he said, adding that once the issues were identified a comprehensive policy with input from all stakeholders could be formulated. He said a variety of measures including education and employment opportunities with justice to all were the basics to establish rule of law and it was a collective responsibility of the people and the government. Talking about the situation in Pakistan, he said rule of law could not be established until law applied to all equally without any prejudice and cast distinction. 'Encourage public-private cooperation, engage educational institutions and create a demand for rule of law,' he said, adding that the role of community was central in creating a demand for rule of law. Mr. Ahmed Bilal Soofi said respect for rule of law implied respect for national and international laws equally. He said it was duty of the state to...

The book gives a comparative perspective of four Muslim countries namely; Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan on 'State, Religion and Democracy'. The publication is part of the Dialogue Forum series titled: 'State, Religion and Democracy' in 2013 launched by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) as part of its democratic advocacy and counter-radicalization program. This three part series of visits and lectures aimed at generating a debate on the issues of democracy, the role of religion, good governance, and sensitizing Pakistani youth on secular forms of state governance in Muslim countries. Other objectives included obtaining a comparative perspective on how different Muslim states manage both religion and politics separately, so that religion is treated as a matter of personal choice, not state business. Furthermore, the Dialogues also aimed to show how the differences of culture, religion or ethnicity are handled in a way that they become a culture of accommodation and tolerance, rather than confrontation and conflict. for complete report please clickhere.  

The vote count in Afghanistan is still on. Initial official but partial results by its Independent Election Commission (IEC) appear to put Dr Abdullah Abdullah ahead of Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, with Zalmay Rassoul, the Karzai favourite, trailing way behind. The partial outcome has also triggered speculations in Kabul that Rassoul and the other presidential candidate Abdul Rab Rassoul Sayyaf are now considering to give their votes to either of the two frontrunners to help them pass the fifty percent vote target to avoid a runoff election. Whatever transpires on May 24 when the Election Commission announces the final results, these elections clearly marked a major step forward in Afghanistan transition from tribalism to quasi-democratic way of handling issues. The unusually big turn-out clearly underscored a thumping rejection of: a) violence, mounted by the Taliban since 2001, b) President Hamid Karzai legacy (Zalmay Rassoul), and c) leaders whose past is either stained with blood or the flag-bearers of the Salafi brand of Islam personified by Professor Sayyaf. By coming out in droves to cast their vote during the relatively peaceful electoral exercise, nearly sixty percent of the 12 million eligible voters essentially snubbed Taliban warnings. Observers have reported that even in areas like Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban, there was a surprisingly high turnout despite serious security challenges posed by the insurgents. Local officials estimated 350,000 votes polled in April 5 while the number was a little less than 250,000 in the 2009 presidential elections. This underlines not only a sense of defiance but also people confidence in the new evolving system. Speaking to reporters after the announcement of partial results by IEC, Ashraf Ghani said that the successful presidential vote sent a strong message to the international community that Afghans are for democracy contrary to the image of their nation being projected around the world. 'I am proud to be...