Current Projects
Striving for Rule of Law: Policing – Perception and Reality, public meeting organized in Karachi
A Public Meeting titled 'Rule of Law: Policing ´ Perception and Reality' was organized on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, in Karachi as part of CRSS-GIZ Capacity Development of Sindh Police (CDSP) project advocacy campaign. The objective of the Public Meeting was: to support improvement of the public image of the Sindh police; create demand for professional police services among the general public; explain and advocate the need for revision of the police laws of 1861; advocate for change and improvement of existing working and structure of the police service; and promote the need and demand for a professional and effectively and efficiently working police force for Sindh. The participants called for reforms in police system, training, provision of technology and modern means of policing to combat crime and terrorism. Senator Saeed Ghani of the PPP, MQM member of Sindh Assembly Khwaja Izharul Hasan, Akhtar Hussain, former vice chairman of Pakistan Bar Council, DIG CID Zafar Bukhari, Sindh AIG (retd) Zafar Farooqui, Asif Chamdia, chairman of Law and Order Committee of the Karchi Chamber of Commerce and Industry spoke on the occasion. CRSS Executive Director Mr Imtiaz Gul briefed the participants and audience about the purpose of holding the meeting. The speakers were of the view that numerical strength of Sindh police was not enough to face the security challenges, it lacked training and specialization besides equipment and modern tools of policing and investigation. While stressing the need for reforms and behavioral change in the police, speakers appreciated the efforts of the police and its sacrifices in fighting the crime especially terrorism. They, however, criticized dichotomy in the existing system where Rangers are governed by a different authority and police do not have any control over them. It was proposed that Rangers be merged in the police and put under the Inspector General of Police. The speakers linked the worsening situation with governance. They...
A consultative meeting with Gujranwala Press Club and representatives of media
A consultative meeting with Gujranwala Press Club and representatives of media was organized on Wednesday, January 29, 2014, as part of CRSS-GIZ Support to Punjab Prosecution Service (SPPS) advocacy campaign. The objective of the meeting was to ascertain: the position of media persons vis-a-vis their priorities in covering particular issues pertaining to the prosecution service; sensitise reporters and journalists on the need for an independent public prosecution service; and solicit recommendations and suggestions. The consensus that emerged during the discussion was that an independently-working prosecution service free of economic and political pressures was essential for speedy trial of the cases and dispensation of justice. The participants stressed the need for training of reporters, putting in place a mechanism of accountability in prosecution service to regularly monitor the performance of the prosecutors, reforms in judicial system with amendments in existing laws to make the change visible. The reporters pointed out various issues they faced while reporting proceedings of the cases. The participants suggested that a detailed analysis followed by reforms at all levels of the prosecution service would help bring a change and improve the existing system to ensure that no criminal went unpunished and no innocent person was punished. They highlighted the role of media in pointing out serious crimes and flaws in the system and noted that it was because of the role of media that a majority of people got justice. They agreed that the role of media was of central importance to inform and educate people to sensitize them on such issues.
Countering terror and Crime – Role of Police and Prosecution
The Center for Research and Security Studies organized a Seminar on Rule of Law titled 'Countering Terror and Crime-Role of Police and Prosecution' on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 with the distinguished speakers from diverse backgrounds and participants representing civil society, media, diplomats, lawyers, ex-police officers and many others. At this seminar on the role of the police in the war on terror, experts called for strengthening the force. An advocacy campaign for a bottom-up demand for better policing and prosecution was also launched at the event, 'Countering Terror and Crime- Role of Police and Prosecution.' Mr. Ahmer Bilal Soofi, an expert on international law, said that the Rule of law also means Rule of International Law which includes fulfilling international treaties, pacts and obligations under International Law. Implementing International Rule of Law would ensure all essential elements of an efficient Criminal Justice System. Use of force by the state is of course a reluctant choice but incase of Public disorders and a continued deteriorating situation there is no option left. A strong legislative support is needed for an effective prosecution service. Security strategies in Pakistan are based on focus point and not on focus areas, which is one of the flaws. He suggested that the criminal justice system must be strengthened while stressing on the need to review political support. A well-coordinated police, judiciary and prosecution is a must. The Focus should be shifted on quality of police, Merit based recruitments, Appointments and promotions on merit, Incentives, fair treatment for all policemen, welfare, medical care, protection, Quality of prosecution to be improved, An active support of government for the departments were all the other suggestions he made during his views. Former Sindh IGP Afzal Ali Shigri said Pakistan faced a 'complex and difficult security situation due to widespread terrorism and insurgency.' While elaborating the role of...
Paralysis of the state
The latest wave of violence in Pakistan betrays the pattern that we have seen since December 2007, and needs to be looked at in a different way. Firstly, these attacks are indiscriminate ´ targeting both civilians and soldiers, in an obvious attempt to undermine security and instill fear in the hearts and minds of the people of Pakistan. Secondly, they occur in the context of bickering amongst mainstream political parties that underscores the deep polarization on peace talks with the Taliban. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on the other hand is very clear about who they are fighting. 'The army is our enemy,' TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said in a policy statement delivered on January 19, following a terrorist attack in Bannu in which 22 troops were killed. 'We will carry out many more attacks like this one.' He said the attack was 'part of our fight against a secular system'. He said the TTP stance on dialogue with the government was very clear. 'If the government proves that it is sincere and has the authority [to conduct meaningful dialogue], then we are ready to talk despite the losses inflicted on us.' The statement indicates the Taliban resolve, while our politicians squabble shamelessly. 'To talk or not to talk,' is the question, but there is no identification of the enemy, and no clarity on which of their demands the government can give in to. Any initiative that ignores these two fundamental prerequisites is bound to fail, and will only embolden non-state entities. Major political players in the country argue over whether we should talk or fight, but do not understand who they would talk to ´ terrorists who only want instability and destruction, or tunnel-visioned, religiously-driven, Al Qaeda-inspired zealots striving for a so-called Islamic emirate in Pakistan? In either case, the proposition of talks is doomed. A government committed to the constitution will not venture to talk to terrorists, and concede to militants an emirate of their own....
Striving for Rule of Law
Justice and Role of Prosecution? To engage the stake-holders, media and civil society in an advocacy campaign for rule of law, the Centre for Research & Security Studies organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in Lahore on January 21, 2014, to emphasize the importance of an independent prosecution service in criminal justice system. The initiative is being supported by the GIZ (the German Agency for International Development). The consultation is part of a larger project which aims at supporting the capacity and organisational development of the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service (PCPS), created in 2006 through the Punjab Criminal Prosecution Service Act, 2006. Its purpose was to establish an independent, effective and efficient Service for prosecution of criminal cases, to ensure prosecutorial independence and for better coordination in criminal justice system in the Punjab, Pakistan most populous province, to build it as an independent, efficient and effective tool for dispensation of justice. The participants of the FGD were: Justice (retd) Nasira Javed Iqbal, former Judge of the High Court, former Inspector General of Police Rana Maqbool, who is now Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on Prosecution, Mian Saifur Rehman, journalist, Tauseeq Sadiq, representative of the Punjab Information Department, Brig (retd) Farooq Hameed Khan, ex-official of National Accountability Bureau and a writer, Shabnam Nagi (Advocate High Court), Shahzada Irfan, writer, Ijaz Butt, Crime and Court Reporter, Abdullah Malik, President of Civil Society Network, and Irshad Arif, Columnist. Professor Dr. Amanullah conducted the FGD. The participants highlighted the advantages and importance of an independently working prosecution service and stressed the need for mobilizing the stakeholders, in particular media and civil society, to support the development of an effective and efficient prosecution service and help create a public demand for it. Talking about the need for...
Confused state
At least 40 deaths within five days in three incidents ´ about ten in an apparent suicide blast in the busy RA Bazaar of Rawalpindi on January 19, and a remotely-operated time-device embedded in a van carrying Frontier Corps soldiers from Bannu to Miranshah, North Waziristan on January 20. Four days earlier, around at least eight worshipers fell to a powerful bomb blast at a Tableeghi Markaz in Peshawar. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for the Rawalpindi and Bannu attacks but condemned the one on the Tableeghi Markaz ´ though that hardly matters. This latest wave of violence shows a certain pattern we have witnessed since December 2007. The three latest incidents suggest that the targets of attacks are indiscriminate and include both civilians and security forces. These are obvious attempts to undermine security and instil fear. The attacks also came at a time when mainstream political parties were playing blame games, underscoring deep polarisation on the issue of talks. The TTP is clear in its aggressive designs on the state of Pakistan. This is highlighted by the TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid statement that, 'The army is our enemy. We will carry out many more attacks like this. Major political players within the country, on the other hand, lack any understanding on who to talk to. Who are the potential interlocutors? Terrorists who are out only for instability and destruction, or some tunnel-visioned, religiously-driven and Al-Qaeda-inspired zealots striving for an Islamic emirate in Pakistan? In either case, the proposition of talks is perilously doomed because neither will a legitimate, law-abiding government venture to talk to terrorists, nor will it be ready to concede to militants an emirate of their own. Or should we assume that the wave of terrorism is an attempt to thwart the talks initiative? The Rawalpindi attack came within 72 hours of the thus far deadliest Taliban strike in Kabul since 2001. The Taliban claimed...
Burden of proof
(Pakistan counterterrorism policy will fail without drastic improvement in prosecution ) Two days after the assassination of Chaudhry Aslam, Karachi police registered a case against Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Mullah Fazlullah and spokesman Shahidullah Shahid. The latter claim of responsibility, it seems, became the basis for the first information report (FIR). This reminds us of the FIR against TTP founder Baitullah Mehsud for the December 27, 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and similar reports after the September 2008 car bomb attack on Islamabad Marriot Hotel, the attack on former premier Shaukat Aziz, the attack on the General Headquarters of the army, and the December 2009 attack on the Parade Lane Mosque in Rawalpindi. Most of these cases have either been shelved, or lingering because of poor investigation and ill-prepared, unimaginative prosecution. Even those who publicly claimed responsibility for acts of terror and aggression against the state (often before cameras and microphones) either got off the hook or are still awaiting convictions. 'You cannot convict even a single person based on these FIRs,' a Miami attorney told me in early 2011, about reports registered against 'perpetrators and masterminds' of Taliban terrorist attacks in Swat in 2009. He was pursuing Swat-related cases of terrorist financing. Later that year, a key prosecutor told me the chance of conviction in all 73 terrorism-related cases was practically zero. There are serious legal bottlenecks in Pakistan counterterrorism strategy ´ a non-committed and often compromised prosecution that rests its case on poor police investigation and flawed documentation. Good prosecution, comprehensive legislation, and ruthless enforcement of laws through a professional, non-political police force are the fundamental pre-requisites in a fight against terrorism and extremism. It essentially means a combination of software and hardware ´ organizational reforms, training and comprehensive...
Malaysian scholars for the role of state to curb extremist tendencies in society
The responsibility of keeping the extremist tendencies in society in check lies with the state and it must create a balance among the diverse sections of the population. Malaysia has also its share of radical and extremists groups but the government despite favoring a certain level of Islamization in the country, has not allowed extremist groups to disrupt peace and harmony in society. Thus, Malaysia has successfully exhibited that the state has all the ability and potential to set some paradigms for the country to ensure the concept of equal citizenry. The visiting Malaysian scholars Prof. Ruhanas Harun and Prof. Dr. Kamarulnizam expressed these views while delivering lectures during the seminar ¿State, Religion and Democracy– at Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) here Thursday. The seminar was part of a series of discussions with Pakistani intelligentsia, academia and civil society on various contemporary issues facilitated by Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) and Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad. Prof, Runhas Harun, during her lecture covered variety of issues regarding governance and ethno-religious problems in Malaysia and said that respecting differences was a key to resolve issues especially in society like Malaysia which was compassed of huge religious, cultural and ethnic diversity. She informed the audience that the government if Malaysia has been successfully able to establish a counter narrative including by presenting versions of Jihad based on inner strive and struggle to serve the humanity. Discussing various aspects of secular democracy, Prof. Dr. Kamarulnizam on the occasion said that religion has a significant role in Malaysia. Yet, he said the government has taken appropriate measures to ensure that and religion should not be posing a hindrance to the democratic and social development of the country. He said that the state has assumed its role to works for the betterment of underprivileged classes and to get them...
Malaysian scholars say state must evolve counter-radicalizing narrative to curb violent extremism
Malaysia has presented successful model of discouraging violent tendencies in society through a comprehensive strategy of counter extremism. Though various ethno-religious groups had been emerged as a major challenge for the social harmony but pro-active and vigilant role of the state has been able to keep the secular democratic of the country intact. The ethno-religious of Malaysia were different from the issues one can observe in Pakistan and hence, they may be demanding different set of solutions than of Malaysia, however, respecting differences should be essence of problem solving strategy in any democratic society. The visiting Malaysian scholars Prof. Ruhanas Harun and Prof. Dr. Kamarulnizam shared these views with the audience at University of Peshawar (UoP) while delivering lectures during the seminar ¿State, Religion and Democracy– here Wednesday. The seminar was part of a series of discussions with Pakistani intelligentsia, academia and civil society on various contemporary issues facilitated by Heinrich Boll Stiftung (HBS) and Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Islamabad. Prof, Runhas Harun informed the audience that on the face of threats emanating from growing ethnic and religious extremism in society, the state had evolved a de-radicalization strategy. In this regard, she said, the state has made quite significant inroad to set an alternate narrative including by presenting versions of Jihad based on inner strive and struggle to serve the humanity in numerous ways. While presenting role of the state in maintain harmony among the diverse groups of society, Prof. Dr. Kamarulnizam, in his lecture, said that the state has adopted a very accommodative attitude towards the religion in Malaysia but has taken appropriate measures to ensure that and religion should not be posing a hindrance to the democratic and social development of the country. He said that the state has assumed its role to works for the betterment of underprivileged classes...
Monthly Report – December 2013
The month of December saw a moderate reduction in the number of casualties related to militant, sectarian and politically-motivated violence plaguing Pakistan. The overall death toll was at around 275 while up to 325 people were wounded in these hostilities bringing the total number of deaths in 2013 to 5665. The figures recorded in November stood at 320 deaths and 320 wounded. It is, however, difficult to ascertain as to what exactly led to the decline in violence in view of the prevailing confusion that surrounds efforts Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif government is making to shape up an effective national security policy to end the bloodshed in the country. A deadly suicide bombing against a security post in the town of Mir Ali in North Waziristan in mid December that killed several soldiers provoked the military to launch a massive retaliatory offensive in the region, involving ground and air raids, allegedly killed nearly three dozen militants mostly Uzbeks. While the army insisted the offensive was carefully planned to avoid collateral damage, residents in the area accused security forces of killing mostly civilians. But the both the accounts as usual were difficult to confirm because the remote tribal region remains inaccessible to journalists and aid workers. The operation prompted nationwide media speculations that a long-awaited military offensive against suspected militant bases in North Waziristan was finally either underway or about to be launched. But the army rejected these reports as unfounded, insisting the offensive was just meant to punish planners of the December 18 suicide bombing. Critics suggested the talk of a possible large-scale military offensive might have discouraged militants from carrying out subversive acts elsewhere in Pakistan and instead focused on fortifying their traditional bases to prepare for the reported army operation. Meanwhile, authorities claimed that violence also went down in Karachi during the month because of the...
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TESTIMONIALS
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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.