Current Projects

Closing ceremony of Workshop, “Methods of Instructions for Instructors”, March 31′ 2014, organized by GIZ in collaboration with Sindh Police, Karachi

The Sindh police and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fâ”œâ•r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) jointly organised a course on the methods of instruction for instructors serving at police training centres in Saeedabad, Shahdadpur and Larkana. The closing ceremony of the course, which was held under the project ¿Capacity Development Support to the Sindh Police–, was held at a hotel in Karachi on Monday March 31– 2014. The event chief guest, Sindh Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Ghulam Hyder Jamali, addressed the participants and distributed certificates among the successful police officers. A comprehensive training programme has been chalked out whereby the GIZ and the Sindh police would jointly conduct the courses for all the police officers at the training centres.Over 2,000 police officers will take the courses this year. The following courses would be held under the CDSP training programme: methods of instruction; first responder; investigation; duty officer, moharir; station house officers; traffic enforcement, education and engineering; and forensics. In December last year the GIZ had organised two workshops for police officers on the importance of forensics and crime scene investigation. Over 500 police officers of the Sindh police had attended the workshops

Closing ceremony of Workshop, "Methods of Instructions for Instructors", March 31' 2014, organized by GIZ in collaboration with Sindh Police, Karachi

The Sindh police and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fâ”œâ•r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) jointly organised a course on the methods of instruction for instructors serving at police training centres in Saeedabad, Shahdadpur and Larkana. The closing ceremony of the course, which was held under the project ¿Capacity Development Support to the Sindh Police–, was held at a hotel in Karachi on Monday March 31– 2014. The event chief guest, Sindh Additional Inspector General of Police (AIGP) Ghulam Hyder Jamali, addressed the participants and distributed certificates among the successful police officers. A comprehensive training programme has been chalked out whereby the GIZ and the Sindh police would jointly conduct the courses for all the police officers at the training centres.Over 2,000 police officers will take the courses this year. The following courses would be held under the CDSP training programme: methods of instruction; first responder; investigation; duty officer, moharir; station house officers; traffic enforcement, education and engineering; and forensics. In December last year the GIZ had organised two workshops for police officers on the importance of forensics and crime scene investigation. Over 500 police officers of the Sindh police had attended the workshops

Alarming Intolerance takes 18 lives

Islamabad - In an alarming wave of religious intolerance as many as 18 persons lost their lives in the first three months of this year, statistics compiled by the Center for Research and Security Studies suggest. The CRSS figures reveal that some ten places of Muslim worship such as mosques, madaris, Imambargahs, sufi shrines, and three Hindu temples were desecrated during this period. This alarming trend of attacks on religious places of works poses serious risks to social cohesion and the religious freedoms envisaged in the constitution of Pakistan, a CRSS statement said. It said the acts were in clear violation of the PPC295 (Injuring or defiling place of worship, with Intent to insult the religion of any class). The article says that any body involved in destroying, damaging, or defiling any place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons with the intention of thereby insulting the religion of any class of persons 'shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.' Perpetrators of most these crimes remain unidentified. However, a Hindu has been identified for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran in Larkana. Alarmingly, almost all religious parties and organizations ´ even those sitting in the parliament - continue to stay mum on these faith-related murders and acts of desecration that are clearly covered by the Blasphemy law, PPC295, the CRSS statement pointed out. Details of Incidents

Pakistan: Musharraf indicted

(Country divided as 'emotional' Musharraf is charged with high treason) The inevitable finally happened; a special court has finally formally charged Pakistan's former strongman General Pervez Musharraf on five counts, including treason on account of suspending the constitution on November 3, 2007. Musharraf expectedly pleaded "not guilty" in an emotional but composed response, saying he never even could imagine committing treason. The former president was charged with treason under Article 6 for suspending, subverting and abrogating the constitution, imposing a state of emergencyon the country in November 2007, making unlawful changes to it, and detaining judges of the superior courts. In what appeared to be a shock to him, the court later also rejected Musharraf's request for permission to leave for Dubai to look after his 94-year-old ailing mother. Itsaidallowing Musharraf to leave the country was the executive's prerogative.This way, the court threw the ball in the government's court. Interestingly, State Prosecutor Akram Sheikh had told the court in the morning, the government had no objection if the accused wanted to go abroad to see his ailing mother. Court appearance Following months ofdelaying tacticsby his lawyers, the special court had, on March 14, issued non-bailable arrest warrants for the former president, instructing the authorities to arrest him if he failed to present himself before the court on March 31. "Whatever I did, I did for the country and its people. I am sad that I am being called a traitor,"stateda composed Musharraf, claiming that he made Pakistan a respectable country during his tenure and recalling that he also defended the country in two major wars with India. Musharrafinsistedthat he did not make decisions alone. His counsels reportedly have submitted a list of some269 "collaborators"of Musharraf between 1999 and 2007, when he imposed a state of emergency and suspended dozens of senior judges, including former Chief Justice...

CRSS welcomes UN panel’s support for Pakistan’s resolution on drones

A little over three months after the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had unanimously spoken against the controversial US drone campaign in foreign territories, the 47-member Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on March 28, too called on all states to ensure that the use of armed drones complied with international law. Of 47 members of the Council, 27 voted in favour of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution, understandably aiming at the United States but not singling out any state. The co-sponsors of the resolution included Yemen and Switzerland. The United States, Britain and France opposed the resolution while 14 other members abstained from the voting. The United States, Britain and France said it was not appropriate for the forum to put weapons systems on its agenda. 'The purpose of this resolution is not to shame or name anyone, as we are against this approach,' Pakistan Ambassador Zamir Akram told the UN Human Rights Council. 'It is about supporting a principle.' The resolution said: 'The UN Human Rights Council urges all states to ensure that any measures employed to counter terrorism, including the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, comply with their obligations under international law [...] in particular the principles of precaution, distinction and proportionality.' It raised concern at civilian casualties resulting from the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, as highlighted by the UN special investigator oncounterterrorism Ben Emmerson in a recent report. It also called on UN human rights boss Navi Pillay to organise expert discussions on armed drones and report back in September. Akram, speaking before the vote, said: 'Opposition can only lead to the conclusion that these states are guilty of violating applicable international law and demonstrate that they are afraid of being exposed in the expert panel.' Earlier, it was on December 18, 2013, that the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had...

CRSS welcomes UN panel's support for Pakistan's resolution on drones

A little over three months after the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had unanimously spoken against the controversial US drone campaign in foreign territories, the 47-member Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on March 28, too called on all states to ensure that the use of armed drones complied with international law. Of 47 members of the Council, 27 voted in favour of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution, understandably aiming at the United States but not singling out any state. The co-sponsors of the resolution included Yemen and Switzerland. The United States, Britain and France opposed the resolution while 14 other members abstained from the voting. The United States, Britain and France said it was not appropriate for the forum to put weapons systems on its agenda. 'The purpose of this resolution is not to shame or name anyone, as we are against this approach,' Pakistan Ambassador Zamir Akram told the UN Human Rights Council. 'It is about supporting a principle.' The resolution said: 'The UN Human Rights Council urges all states to ensure that any measures employed to counter terrorism, including the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, comply with their obligations under international law [...] in particular the principles of precaution, distinction and proportionality.' It raised concern at civilian casualties resulting from the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, as highlighted by the UN special investigator oncounterterrorism Ben Emmerson in a recent report. It also called on UN human rights boss Navi Pillay to organise expert discussions on armed drones and report back in September. Akram, speaking before the vote, said: 'Opposition can only lead to the conclusion that these states are guilty of violating applicable international law and demonstrate that they are afraid of being exposed in the expert panel.' Earlier, it was on December 18, 2013, that the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had...

CRSS welcomes UN panel's support for Pakistan's resolution on drones

A little over three months after the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had unanimously spoken against the controversial US drone campaign in foreign territories, the 47-member Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on March 28, too called on all states to ensure that the use of armed drones complied with international law. Of 47 members of the Council, 27 voted in favour of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution, understandably aiming at the United States but not singling out any state. The co-sponsors of the resolution included Yemen and Switzerland. The United States, Britain and France opposed the resolution while 14 other members abstained from the voting. The United States, Britain and France said it was not appropriate for the forum to put weapons systems on its agenda. 'The purpose of this resolution is not to shame or name anyone, as we are against this approach,' Pakistan Ambassador Zamir Akram told the UN Human Rights Council. 'It is about supporting a principle.' The resolution said: 'The UN Human Rights Council urges all states to ensure that any measures employed to counter terrorism, including the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, comply with their obligations under international law [...] in particular the principles of precaution, distinction and proportionality.' It raised concern at civilian casualties resulting from the use of remotely-piloted aircraft or armed drones, as highlighted by the UN special investigator oncounterterrorism Ben Emmerson in a recent report. It also called on UN human rights boss Navi Pillay to organise expert discussions on armed drones and report back in September. Akram, speaking before the vote, said: 'Opposition can only lead to the conclusion that these states are guilty of violating applicable international law and demonstrate that they are afraid of being exposed in the expert panel.' Earlier, it was on December 18, 2013, that the 193-member strong United Nations General Assembly had...

CRSS Condemns attack on Journalist

Pakistani journalists Saturday observed protest meetings and brought out rallies to condemn what seemed a reprisal for prominent and liberal intellectual/ tv anchor Raza Rumi outspoken views on terrorism and militancy. CRSS management condemns the dastardly attack and reiterates its support for unconditional and unfettered right of expression and assembly. The attack on Friday, March 28, took place just a few hundred yards away from the Express TV Lahore office which Rumi had just left after hosting his programme ¿Khabar Se Agay–. Unidentified gunmen fired at least eleven shorts on the car, injuring Rumi and his guard, while fatally wounding his his driver, who later succumbed to his fatal injuries. A number of outspoken writers, journalists and anchors have drawn criticism from all of those socio-political and religio-political who support talks with the Tehreeki Taliban Pakistan ´ a militant outfit proscribed by the government as a terrorist organizations. This was the fifth attack on the Express Media group, leaving Rumi driver dead. In one of the earlier strikes, three of Express TV staffers had been killed in a brazen gun attack in Karachi in January. These repeated attacks have raised serious questions about the government ability to provide security to media houses in Pakistan and ensure that the media operate freely in the country. Talking to Express News after the attack, Rumi said that doctors had termed his driver Mustafa condition critical. Mustafa succumbed to his injuries later. Rumi himself received minor injuries from glass shards which flew at him when the windscreen of the car shattered. When asked, he said that although he had not received any direct threats, he was reportedly on the hit-list of some extremist groups. 'Was fired at near Raja MarketÎ“Ã‡Âª I was dreading this day,' Rumi tweeted soon after the attack. Meanwhile, the Punjab Union of Journalists announced that it would hold a protest in front of the Punjab Assembly on Saturday. In...

Analysis: Putting talks in context

The government and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan sat down on Wednesday to find a mutually agreed way to peace. This first, direct contact is nothing short of the first major step towards legitimising a group that is proscribed by both Pakistan and the US. The government committee consists of former ambassador Rustam Shah Mohmand, Additional Chief Secretary Fata Arbab Arif, Secretary Ports and Shipping Habibullah Khattak and Additional Secretary to the prime minister Fawad Hasan Fawad. They are supported by a former ISI official, retired Major Mohammad Amir. The TTP intermediaries include Maulana Samiul Haq, who heads his own faction of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Jamaat-i-Islami Prof Ibrahim, and JUI-S spokesperson Maulana Yousuf Shah. The Taliban shura is represented at the talks by Qari Shakeel, Maulvi Bashir, Azam Tariq and Maulvi Zakir. How much influence these four wield within the shura is not known. The shura is headed by TTP chief Mullah Fazlullah, a rabid Salafist who wants a Sharia-based Islamic emirate. Sheikh Khalid Haqqani is TTP deputy chief and head of the group supreme shura. Number three in the hierarchy is Shakeel Ahmed Haqqani (alias Qari Shakeel) who heads the TTP political shura. A pan-Islamist, militant Al Qaeda ideology is what primarily bonds the three. Although ideologically close to the Haqqani Network, they do not appear to share the network spare-Pakistan policy. Abdul Wali (alias Omar Khalid Khorasani) from Mohmand Agency is also a vocal opponent of the Pakistani state. Another important, albeit with far less political clout, member of the shura is Khan Said Mehsud (alias Khalid Khan Sajna), a commander of the TTP in South Waziristan, once known for his differences with the late TTP chief Hakeemullah Mehsud and who probably remains at odds with the TTP Mehsud proponents. He was reportedly averse to attacks on Pakistani interests. Other shura members include Shehryar Mehsud (alias Shahbaz), commander, North Waziristan TTP, Shahidullah...

Consultative meeting with Karachi Press Club

A consultative meeting on 'Policing and Role of Media' was held at Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Monday March 24, 2014. The meeting was held in partnership between the Center for Research and Security Studies and the KPC. The objectives of the meeting were: to ascertain the position of media personnel on their perceptions and matters of interest vis-a-vis the Sindh police force, its working, capacity development, problems and difficulties; sensitize media personnel on an urgent need for new legislation and revision of the police laws of 1861; minimizing prejudices against police; and urgemedia to advocate professionalism and accountability of the police vis a vis the public. Former Capital City Police Office (CCPO) Tariq Jamil apprised the participants of the difficulties and the problems faced by the police force in Sindh and pointed out the areas where reforms were needed. The meeting was attended by editors of newspapers, columnists, senior reporters and the KPC office-bearers. Mr. Jamil, while stressing the need for better police force, maintained that the Police Order 2002 was still a legally applicable law asit had not been repealed. He said this order addressed most of the complaints the people had and provided for accountability in police department besides blocking political and other pressures on police. The speakers stressed that police must be people-friendly and should be independent to work for the rule of law. They also called for better education, training and salaries with strong accountability arm for the police department.