Current Projects
Supreme Court Reiterates Financial Rights for Women
March 9, 2021 is marked an important day in Pakistan as the Supreme Court reiterated the financial rights given to women by Islam in the sharia law. A 12-page judgment by Justice Qazi Faez Isa after hearing a property matter stated that Islam has given exceptional legal rights to women. The important economic rights given to women by Islam were highlighted in the judgment. According to the Sharia law, the bridal gifts given at the time of marriage are the wife’s property, and remain hers. These gifts can be added to but not taken away from her in any case. Moreover it highlighted women’s right to own and dispose of her property; her right to retain – both before and after her marriage – her income and property; her ability to do business without permission of her father or husband and keep and spend what she earns, which means that every woman in Pakistan has the right to attain economic independence as per her own choice and decision. Additionally, Justice Isa added that a woman has every right to own property and run a business along with inheriting from her parents and husband, and also suggested husbands to make wills to provide for their wives. The judgment also included citations from the Holy Quran about women’s rights to enter into contracts and to witness contracts, get benefit from what they earn. Though the judgment is a good news for women across the country facing grave violations of these rights, but the main question i.e. implementation of these laws, still stands unanswered. There is no doubt about the fact that Islam is the biggest advocate of women rights and a large portion of the Sharia law highlights the rights available for women, but the issue of lack of implementation persists. The basic reason behind the frail application of these laws is the lack of public awareness of the available legislation along with the cultural setup which doesn’t permit individuals to question the existing cultural norms and to speak up for their rights or against...
Remarks By Hasina Safi, Afghan Minister For Women’s Affairs, After Meeting With The CRSS Beyond Boundaries Delegation At Kabul On March 17, 2021
Remarks By Hasina Safi, Afghan Minister For Women’s Affairs, After Meeting With The CRSS Beyond Boundaries Delegation At Kabul On March 17, 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_UJS6qfoak
What Impedes Women’s Economic Participation?
Education and development come hand in hand. It is not possible to achieve sustainable economic development without substantial investment in the education sector, as only education has the power to generate sumptuous human capital. Education not only enhances people’s perception of themselves and the world but also improves their wellbeing and leads to extensive social benefits to individuals and society along with raising people’s efficiency and creativity and encouraging entrepreneurship and technological developments. Additionally, education lays the foundation for social, political, and economic development of a country. One of the reasons behind Pakistan’s lagging behind in the economic domain is the structural flaws in its education system. According to Economic Survey for Pakistan, Pakistan has a 60% literacy rate, with female illiteracy worse than that of men because of the overarching patriarchal culture and challenging conditions for females, and hence this factor adds greatly to Pakistani women’s decreased participation in the economic domain. The persistent loopholes in education system which hamper women’s economic participation include a less number of female educational institutes. Since Pakistan has a patriarchal society, a lot of parents do not allow their daughters to study in coed institutes, hence separate educational institutes for female students are needed. Gender-based segregation of academic disciplines happens to be another impediment in females’ economic empowerment. In the Pakistani society, the few girls who tend to acquire higher education, are encouraged and allowed to do so in limited fields only e.g. medical, natural sciences etc. This limitation impedes them from pursuing careers of their own choice and interest. Since, the institutes offering these disciplines cannot accommodate a lot of students, only few get a chance to acquire higher education. Moreover, the few females that get the chance to pursue education get to study an...
Collaborative Workshops and Debates-on February March 2-3, 2021, Nawabshah
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) conducted the nineteenth two-day PACE Collaborative workshops and debates for university students, on March 2-3, 2021, in Nawabshah. The workshop was held at Aleez Hotel, Nawabshah. The event was organized under the umbrella of the Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE), a counter-radicalization and pluralistic values’ focused project, in collaboration with the Dutch Government. The participants included the students of the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Peoples’ University of Health and Medical Sciences, and Quid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Nawabshah, with a total participation of 80 students; 43 female and 37 male students. Lecturer SBBU, Mr. Siraj Ahmed opened the session with a thank you note to PACE team and welcomed them in Jamshoro. He said that it is a great opportunity for the students to come together on a platform like this and take part in learning new things and unlearning preconceived notions. The program provides for an environment suitable for critical thinking and being a student you should be confident enough to question your teachers and elders instead of accepting whatever they pass on to you. Project Manager, Ms. Farhana Kanwal thanked all the universities for their efforts to hold the workshop in Sindh and taking keen interest in the event. She said that PACE believes in constitutionalism and critical thinking; everything that will be discussed at the event will be rooted in the Constitution of 1973 of Pakistan. A total of five sessions were conducted on different thematic areas. On day 1, Mr. Jaleel Ahmed spoke on ‘Good Governance and Rule of Law; Dr. Shaukat Lohar shared his views on ‘Leadership and Motivation; and Ms. Reema Kanwal delivered a session on ‘Equal Citizenry. On day 2, Mr. Naeem Memon enlightened students on ‘Ethical Journalism’. The students attended all the session and appreciated the knowledge imparted during the sessions. They were of the...
Inclusivity is key to salvaging the US–Taliban Doha deal
Author: Imtiaz Gul The deal struck by the United States with the Afghan Taliban in Doha on 29 February 2020 was de facto recognition of the weight of the fundamentalist militant group. Nearly 10 days later all 15 members of the UN Security Council endorsed the agreement. But challenges plague the deal a year on. Former US acting deputy representative to the United Nations Cherith Norman Chalet had pointed out that the resolution was the culmination of more than a year of unprecedented, painstaking US diplomatic engagement with the Taliban, the Kabul government and almost all key regional actors. Accompanied by verbal demands for a reduction in violence as a pre-condition to intra-Afghan dialogue, the agreement called for the fundamentalists to sever ties with international terrorist groups and to prevent them from using Afghanistan to carry out attacks against the United States. A year on, the violence is not diminishing nor is the intra-Afghan dialogue making any real progress. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s team is still seeking explanation on the rationale for continuing ‘Taliban jihad’. The United Nations is also yet to take around 100 key Taliban leaders off the list of terrorists. The deal underlined a realisation among the Taliban for the need to engage in talks for a way out of nearly two decades of conflict. US support for a Taliban Doha office was also a political compulsion for the United States — it had until then treated the Taliban as an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group and was legally constrained from talking to them. Doha provided a political face to the Taliban and enabled them to engage with the United States and other stakeholders. But Kabul reneged on the deal in pinning hopes for a review of US Afghan policy under the Biden administration. The move disregarded the critical role and consent of other actors as well as the opinions of key regional power centres such as Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and Islamabad. For the Taliban, the deal with the...
China’s Staggering Success and Pakistan
by: Imtiaz Gul Note: Pakistan and China are celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations today. In this article, Imtiaz Gul, Chief Editor MATRIXMAG, provides a cursory look of how this partnership excelled and why it upsets many other countries. The 70th anniversary of Pakistan China relations at an extremely critical juncture of history to the context of unprecedented ravages caused by COVID19 – offers an occasion for pride and reflection. Unmatched fraternity, selfless commitment to each other’s welfare and unflinching partnership marks this relationship, which is the envy of many across the globe. China indeed inspires pride, hopes and confidence as far as Pakistan is concerned. There are four major reasons for this bond. Firstly, on February 25 this year, for example, China announced to had lifted 850 million people out of destitution and extreme poverty, a mission President Xi Jinping had set himself when he became the President in 2013. At a ceremony in Beijing, broadcast live on state television, Xi commended poverty fighters, and said his signature campaign to improve livelihoods had added 100 million people to the total during his eight years in power. “There is no other country that could achieve such remarkable poverty alleviation progress within such a short time. Eradicating extreme poverty is yet another remarkable miracle of mankind worthy of historic remembrance. It is a great honour belonging to the Chinese Communist Party and the people,” Xi said. Xi said on Thursday that 98.99 million people had been freed from abject poverty after an eight-year campaign and residents of more than 800 counties, with average income under 4,000 yuan (US$619) a year, had been removed from the official poverty list. After becoming president in 2013, Xi had listed poverty elimination as one of the core missions for his administration and set a deadline of 2020. No doubt that the success in fighting poverty is also pegged...
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Proposed to Soothe the Bitter Context: Pakistan-Bangladesh Webinar
Pakistan is always the first one to take initiatives for strengthening Pakistan-Bangladesh relations, but little reciprocity is shown by Bangladesh. Therefore it is high time for Pakistan and Bangladesh to let go of the past and work together for a progressive future. These were the remarks made by Dr. Moonis Ahmar, Meritorious Professor, Department of International Relations, University of Karachi, while speaking at the second webinar in the series “Pakistan–Bangladesh Relations” organized by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), earlier today. Speakers included Dr. Sharin Shajahan Naomi, Assistant Professor, Gender Studies, Asian University for Women, Bangladesh, M. Sarwar Hossain, Barrister-at-Law of Lincoln's Inn., and Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director of CRSS. He added that a flexible visa regime can help in enhancing people to people relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. He continued that people of both the countries have enormous opportunities to mend economic, political and cultural relations. According to him, efforts should be made to promote academic cooperation between the educational institutes of both countries. This cannot be done unless there are leaders from both sides who are able to promote meaningful interaction between students from Pakistan and Bangladesh. He proposed the truth and reconciliation commission which can help overcome the bitterness of the past and also help in sanitizing the historical literature on the events around 1971. Dr. Sharin Shajahan Naomi expressed that Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are happy with each other. In politics there is a binary view but people to people relations are good, despite the past trauma and unfortunate memories. Currently there is a huge gap in the economic relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh. She suggested that a trade agreement could be a strong starting point to form good relations on a higher level and Bangladesh would be welcoming towards this stance since it wants...
Collaborative Workshops and Debates-on February 27-28, 2021, Jamshoro
The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) conducted the eighteenth two-day PACE Collaborative workshops and debates for university students, on February 27-28, 2021, in Jamshoro. The workshop was held at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET), Jamshoro. The event was organized under the umbrella of the Pakistan Center of Excellence (PACE), a counter-radicalization and pluralistic values’ focused project, in collaboration with the Dutch Government. The participants included the students of the MUET, University of Sindh, and Sindh Agriculture University with a total participation of 150 students; 60 female and 90 male students. Director ORIC, Dr. Inam Bhatti opened the session with a thank you note to PACE team and welcomed them in Jamshoro. He said that it is a great opportunity for the students to come together on a platform like this and take part in learning new things and unlearning preconceived notions. The program provides for an environment suitable for critical thinking and being a student you should be confident enough to question your teachers and elders instead of accepting whatever they pass on to you. Advisor CRSS, Ms. Samina Imtiaz thanked MUET and other universities for their efforts to hold the workshop in Sindh and taking keen interest in the event. She said that PACE believes in constitutionalism and critical thinking; everything that will be discussed at the event will be rooted in the Constitution of 1973 of Pakistan. A total of five sessions were conducted on different thematic areas. On day 1, Ms. Rosy Ilyas spoke on ‘Leadership and Motivation’; Dr. Aslam Uqeli shared his views on ‘Respect for Diversity, Rights and Opinions'; and Dr. Tauha Hussain Ali delivered a session on ‘Positive Attitude for Youth’. On day 2, Ms. Sameena Imtiaz enlighted students on ‘Increasing Women’s Voices and Visibility’; and Dr. Ali Muhammad Sheikh delivered a session on ‘Journalistic Ethics in a Multicultural Society like Pakistan’. The...
Pakistan Afghanistan have made more progress in last 8 months, than 20 years: Umar Daudzai
We have made more progress, in last eight months than the last 20 years; it is the first time, both countries have appointed Special Envoys for each other. This gives us a direct and speedy channel for any issue of mutual concern. Pakistan and Afghanistan have no option but to trust each other; we cannot be the prisoners of the past. We have passed the phase of mistrust, now we are looking towards the future and youth is an integral part of the times ahead, said Excellency Umar Daudzai, Afghanistan’s Special Envoy to Pakistan, at the third Pak-Afghan Youth Summit on February 25th 2021. Daudzai also appreciated very positive and constructive role in facilitating Afghan peace process. He said he was looking forward to a comprehensive bilateral relationship between the two sides, work on which is underway, and many high-level meetings are taking place. Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Excellency Najibullah Alikhil appreciated the role of CRSS in enhancing people-to-people contact between the two nations. He said that the frequency of these cross-border engagements shows that things have changed and people are willing to work together in the domains of mutual interests. He added that Pakistan has done considerably well regarding climate mitigation; billion trees project speaks for itself. Afghanistan is ready to collaborate with Pakistan on climate issue, especially given the great potential of Afghanistan in producing clean energy. Additionally, on gender issues, he remarked that Kabul has made considerable progress on women rights, reflected in 30-35% of representation in the parliament. Besides that, many ministers are women. This gives us hope and is also a challenge to sustain the gains made so far. Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan (MNA) Shandana Gulzar, said that most of the gender issues are derived from culture, legitimized through the veil of religion. This is where the problem starts; no one questions the religion. Whereas, in actual these issues...
Women in sports: an asset, not a liability
It is refreshing to see a surge in the trend of women participation in sports in Pakistan. Last week, a Pakistani athlete Neelofar Shirazi from district Battgaram made a world record by breaking 1000 bricks in mere 27 minutes at the Sports Stadium in Islamabad. Neelofar didn’t only break bricks but also managed to break the cultural barriers and taboos associated with women in our society. Over the last decade, Pakistan has witnessed a heartwarming surge in the number of women athletes who have turned in exceptional performances at the national and international level. This increase doesn’t only show Pakistan’s commitment to attain the SDG 5 i.e., gender equality, but also shows a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s sociocultural setup. Women in sports are crucial for the prosperity of Pakistan, as sports play a huge role in nation-building by inculcating uplifting qualities like discipline, determination, teamwork and a passion for fitness in the psyche of a nation. Giving representation to women in sports largely helps in portraying a softer image of Pakistan as a women-friendly and gender sensitized country in front of the world. Involving young females in sports helps them in utilizing their strengths in constructive activities rather than wasting their potential in useless traditions. Moreover, the sports domain has allowed women to discover innovative career and job opportunities that they didn’t know existed, as professions are highly segregated on the basis of gender in Pakistan, so women only got to work in the education or healthcare sector, but now the trend has shifted and women are seen defying all odds and earning good name for the country in the sports sector. This has given the Pakistani women a sense of confidence that they can ace any field of their interest without any restriction. Women have started feeling empowered with this freedom to choose a profession of their own choice. With this empowerment and confidence come distinctions in the field of...
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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.