FATA Commission of Human Rights launched

Dated: November 28, 2015

A FATA Commission of Human Rights was launched in FATA to protect and promote Human Rights in FATA. This commission will also protect and promote Human Rights Defenders in FATA. It will have coordinators in all seven agencies and six Frontier Regions of FATA and will be headed by Zar Ali Khan Afridi as its founding President while known Human Rights Defenders Qamar Naseem and Taimur Kamal will be members of its advisory Council.  Names of Coordinators, Structure and manifesto will be announced soon on December 10, 2015.

Regards,

Zar Ali Khan Afridi

03015963337

Children need school in Chitral

Zar Ali Khan Afridi with school children at Atani lasht a far flung village in mountains at Ayun-Chitral. This village was damaged and hard hit by recently devastating earth quake. The epicenter was also located some where in near by mountains. People in village demanded for boys and girls schools. They said that their children had to travel more than 7-8 kilometers distance across mountains for school. In winter season their children weep at morning due to snow and harsh weather and they get slipped on snow and it is reason that many children have got fractured legs and hands. The demand was made at a time when elders had tears in their eyes

FATA students are facing issues in D I Khan colleges

FATA students who are in DI Khan now days as IDPs are facing issues in getting admissions in Degree 2 college DI Khan where they are not allowed on basis that they are from FATA. This is a serious issue and Government should take this case very seriously as it is concerned with future of students. On one hand it is proudly professed by Pakistan and its institutions that tribal are protecting Pakistan but on other hands they are being deprived of the fundamental right of education. This is double standard and needs solution.

We sit down to stand up: End Child and forced marriage in KP and FATA

http://tribune.com.pk/story/969849/rally-out-non-prof-its-demand-legislation-on-child-marriages-in-k-p/

ESHAWAR: A joint sit-in was organised outside Peshawar Press Club on Thursday by NGOs to rally for an end to early child and forced marriages.

Groups like Alliance, Blue Veins, Tribal NGO consortium, MEN UNiTE, Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network and National Coordination Group were joined by teachers, working women and students.

Participants demanded the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government provide a time frame in which the legislation could be enacted. The bill paves the way to deal with pending cases and can help prevent future instances of child marriages in K-P.

“The K-P government has shown a lack of will in addressing the issue of child marriages. Through this sit-in, we are calling on the provincial government to table the K-P Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Bill 2015 in the provincial assembly without delay, “said Qamar Naseem, coordinator of Alliance.

Protesters complained the government showed poor will in the past to introduce this bill in the K-P Assembly. According to the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey for 2012-13, the statistics for child marriages are significantly alarming especially in K-P.

Naseem added the federal government announced it would prevent child marriages in 2015 through the support of Sustainable Development Goals. “Yet, three years later, child marriage remains a significant problem in Pakistan.”

He said, “UNICEF reports 21% girls in Pakistan are married before they are 18.” According to reports from Human Rights Commission, the child marriage rates for 2012 were as high as 74% for certain districts of K-P.

Protesters demanded the government deliver on its commitment to end child marriages and set-up plans to end the practice by 2030.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2015.

Read more: Rally out

‘Govt ignoring experts’ input in cybercrime bill’

http://www.dawn.com/news/1211642

ISLAMABAD: Despite a civil society outcry and several public hearings with stakeholders, the government seems bent on pushing a long-awaited cybercrime bill through parliament without incorporating experts’ recommendations.

On Wednesday, a large number of groups advocating digital rights and freedom of expression gathered for a press conference at the National Press Club to oppose this attitude.

Representatives of the Digital Rights Foundation (DRF), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Blue Veins, the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, the Tribal NGOs Consortium, Institute for Research, Advocacy and Development (IRADA), Civic Action Resources and Pakistan For All voiced concerns over the fact that the draft bill was not shared amongst members of the committee, despite being asked to do so, which appeared to be an attempt to pass the bill without proper analysis and debate.

A final draft of the bill has been approved by the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and forwarded to the National Assembly for passage to the Senate.

A DRF representative said, “The government must introduce a stringent personal data protection law that defends the rights of Internet users in the country.

The government must also establish a privacy commission to perform surveillance and privacy oversight, to ensure that laws and provisions set up to protect citizens are strictly adhered to.”

The IRADA representative said that the cybercrime bill, as approved by the standing committee, was against the individual’s fundamental right to information as enshrined in Article 19-A of the Constitution and the principles of proactive disclosure of information.

“The bill, in fact, criminalizes the disclosure of information in public interest (whistle-blowing) and is no less than a modern version of the draconian Official Secrets Act, 1923,” he said.

“The political parties and parliament are duty bound to protect the interests and rights of citizens, not assist the government of the day in protecting some of its own interest that are at odds with the interests of the public.

“There should be no compromise on civil liberties and their protections,” a spokesperson for the Freedom Network said.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2015

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Thanks FATA Lawyers forum for joining us today in our joint sit in for legislation on child and early marriage in FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This was jointly organized by Tribal NGOs Consortium, PCSN, Blue Veins, Men Unite, Alliance to end child violence and marriage, NACG KP/FATA and Child Rights Movement FATA and PVDP.

Child Rights Movement Movement FATA Press Conference over implementation of Article 25 A in FATA at Parachinar Press Club Kurram Agency FATA

Participated in a meeting over Vaccination in Islamabd

Participated in a Public Hearing on The Islamabad Mandatory Vaccination and protection of Health workers Bill. Prominent among them were Senator Farhatullah Babar, Senator Aisha  Raza Farooq, Senator Kumar, Dr Sheryar Afridi Member National,  Assembly, Wajiha of National Child Health Consortium, Zar Ali Khan Afridi Coordinator Child Rights Movement FATA, Dr Tahir Masood, President Pakistan Pediatric Association, Mehnaz Akbar Aziz  and few others were present on that occasion. This Public Hearing was held in Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services Islamabad.
Good suggestions and recommendation regarding FATA were also presented regarding immunization and need for legislation. Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi Chairman Senate Standing Committee on National Health Services Regulations and Coordination was chief guest on this occasion.

Child Rights Movement FATA demands for implementation of Article 25 A in FATA

http://tribune.com.pk/story/965352/educational-reform-in-fata-govt-urged-to-implement-article25-a/

PARACHINAR: Child Rights Movement coordinator Zar Ali Khan Afridi said the government should take meaningful steps to implement Article 25-A, Right to Education, in the tribal areas. He demanded it rebuild 500 schools which were destroyed in militant attacks. Afridi was speaking at a news conference at Parachinar Press Club on Wednesday about the government’s duties under Article 25-A. Afridi explained the government is responsible to provide free and compulsory education to all children between ages five and 16. Although the act is in place, it is not implemented, he added. The government should collaborate with civil society to launch an awareness campaign for parents to ensure education for all children in Fata, said Afridi. According to a survey, Fata is short of 8,844 schools based on the population ratio. He appealed to the media to play its role for the implementation of Article 25-A in Fata.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2015.

Society for Rights and Development was Awarded by Namati Justice

Society for Rights and Development(SRD) got Courage Recommendation Award after Namati Justice announced The Results of Namati Justice Prize. Zar Ali Khan Afridi Executive Director Society for Rights and Development is highly obliged to Namati team for awarding us Courage Commendations Award. This award was given to 4 organizations. One of them is Society for Rights and Development.

http://namati.org/network/justiceprizeresult/

Abducted child was rescued

Now a day it is a common practice that children in Peshawar and surrounding areas are kidnapped and through press we came to know that after abduction children mutilated bodies are dumped in deserted areas or fields. It was September 23, 2015 when i was in Peshawar cantt where i saw a man apparently he was abducting a boy of three. When i sensed it i went closer to him and asked about boy identity and he said that the boy was missing from his parents. Boy who was very small child of about three years could not speak any thing and was just weeping bitterly. When i was in Deans by time i had heard some body announcing that a child was missing and his parents are looking for him. I soon understood the case and snatched boy from abductor and brought him to deans center in my lap. I handed over boy to his father and three young sisters of whom he was their lone brother in front of Administration of Deans. They were very glad and thanked me. It was a shocking moment for me and a joyful moment as well. Thanks God i saved a child from abductors.

Regards 
Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Abduction of Akhunzada Chattan son condemned

Tribal NGOs Consortium, Child Rights Movement FATA and National Action and Coordination Group FATA strongly condemn abduction of a teen aged son of Akhunzada Chattan a former member of parliament of Pakistan from Bajaur Agency FATA and a leader of Pakistan Peoples Party. Using of children in war or to coerce some one to leave what opponents do not like to see is a great crime. Pakistan as a state is signatory to UN Convention on the Right of Child but situations of children in Pakistan is worst. Pakistan has not yet signed optional protocols where children are banned to be used in armed conflicts. Pakistan should accelerate its efforts to stop perpetrators to use children for war purposes. Pakistan also does not send its human rights related situation report and especially that of children to UN Human Rights Committee for Universal Periodic Review. Situations of FATA is worst and human rights record is unsatisfactory. This needs to be straightened as human rights and children rights are universal and all countries have a responsibility to use good offices to secure our children from clutches of criminals and terrorists whose agenda is anti human and anti children.

Malala day is being observed on July 14, 2015

Dear All

Malala Day is observed  every year on 14 July 2014, is not just a day to celebrate Malala Yousafzai. It is a day for all children everywhere to raise their voices and be heard. It is a day to stand up for education and say to world that we are stronger than the enemies of education and stronger than the forces that threaten girls, boys and women from leading happy and productive lives.

This year Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCNS) in collaboration with Khwendo Kor, MEN UNiTE, Tribal NGOs Consortium, and Education Watch KP/FATA have organized a media briefing to celebrate Malala Day to highlight the leading role that youth can play in enabling all children to get an education.

You are cordially invited to this press briefing as following:

Date; July 14, 2015

Venue: Peshawar Press Club

Time:  1 : pm (Sharp)

Regards,

Taimur Kamal (Coordinator)

PCSN

Religious Minorities in FATA need to be empowered

Zar Ali Khan Afridi Chairman Tribal NGOs Consortium welcomes government decision to nominate Maliks from  religious minorities in Khyber Agency-FATA. Reforms in FATA and especially integration of religious minorities is appreciated and a laudable act but at same time we demand of government to work to empower people of FATA and its religious minorities as well who should be considered as equal and empowered citizens. Besides government should also realize women as human beings and as citizens in FATA where there is no concept of women empowerment whether it is politics, parliament, economic and social life and matter. Government should focus on protecting and defending human rights, women rights, children rights and religious minorities rights in FATA by bringing more and more positive, constructive and human friendly reforms and its implementation in letter and spirit. We know throughout history of FATA and role of Maliks has not been positive and they have always tried to keep people backward and gain petty interest. By nominating religious minorities as Lungi Holdres will not help solve the long standing issues confronting people of FATA in general and religious minorities in particular.

Three women arrested under FCR and lactating child seperated

Three women of Khyber Agency-FATA have been arrested by Political Administration who are still in its custody

Police in Peshawar arrested three tribeswomen in Peshawar who belong to Khyber Agency-FATA and handed them over to Political Administration of Khyber Agency-FATA who latter on further handed them over to some one influencial person from Khyber Agency on Superdari like vehicles by Pakistan courts. Women in questions belong to Malik Din Khel Tribe of Afridi of Bara Sub Division-Khyber Agency whose male members are alleged to have committed some unlawful act. The male members were absconder for few days and Peshawar Police instead arrested women and handed them over to Political Administration of Khyber Agency. Latter on male members are said to have been arrested but still women are in custody of Political Administration. One of the women is pregnant while other is lactating mother who feeds her newly born child. Ironically mother and child have been separated forcefully. The child is home while woman is in custody of Political Administration.

Asif Ali Zardari then Pakistan President had amended FCR of 1901 in 2011 which states that children below 16 and women will not be arrested under FCR of 1901. Political Administration in FATA does not abide by amendments and still women and children are arrested and put behind bar which is violation of women and children rights in FATA. Pakistan does not send its FATA human rights violation report in Universal Periodic Review to United Nations.

Tribal NGOs Consortium, Child Rights Movement FATA and National Action and Coordinating Group against Violence against Children (NACG)-FATA strongly condemn this heinous crime against women and children and demand of government to punish responsible officials and officers who committed this crime against women and children.

Regards

Zar Ali khan Afridi

Chairman

Tribal NGOs Consortium

Coordinator

Child Rights Movement-FATA

Coordinator

National Action and Coordinating Group against violence against children-FATA

Contact  :03015963336

TNC will hold a session on FCR with students

Tribal NGOs Consortium, Society for Rights and Development - SRD,, MEN UNiTE and Sap-pk Peshawar are holding a session with FATA Students on FCR titled FCR and Fundamental Human Rights enshrined in Constitution of Pakistan 1973 in Peshawar on 25th April, 2015. time.10.30 AM. Engr Tor Gul Chamkani and Qamar Naseem will be resource persons who will talk at length about the subject and will inform the participants regarding issues confronting people of FATA due to FCR. Qamar Naseem is also expected to talk about Universal Declaration of Human Rights and challenges to Human Rights in FATA.

Child in landi kotal Khyber Agency FATA should be released immediately

Maaz khan Shinwari a student of class 10 has been put behind bar for last 1 month by Assistant Political Agent, Landi Kotal Khyber Agency-FATA. He is a student of Shinwar Public School Landi Kotal and has been languishing in lock up of Assistant Political Agent. He is only 16 and has been arrested under collective responsibility clause which has now been amended in 2011 by then President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari. According to new amendment no child between 5 and 16 will be arrested under said clause. But ironically political Administration of Khyber Agency is quite ignorant of it and have no knowledge of new amendments and Convention on the Rights of Child(CRC) of which Pakistan is a signatory and has ratified it on 12th of November 1990. Pakistan is first Muslim and 6th country in the world to sign this convention and ratified it. When i contacted Meraj Shinwari elder brother of Maaz shinwari in Landi Kotal he said that he and his family have been experiencing life as hell for them. Their brother has been arrested for no crime he has committed. He is just a 10 grade student and he could not sit take his annual metric examination due to his unlawful detention. Now his precious one year was lost. He is an intelligent student and could have obtained excellent position in annual examination if was not detained by Assistant Political Agent, he narrated his sorrowful tale to me. Tribal NGOs Consortium and Child Rights Movement FATA strongly condemn this non serious attitude of political administration towards children and slated them for their ignorance regarding CRC and FCR amendments.
Regards
Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Attack on brother of Sardar Mushtaq Gill is condemnable

Press Release

04-04-2015

Zar Ali Khan Afridi, a known Human Rights Defender and Chairman tribal NGOs Consortium strongly condemned firing on the brother of Sardar Mushtaq Gill a famous Human Rights Defender on the basis of his human rights activities, in Lahore, capital of the Punjab in Pakistan. In Pakistan religious minorities and human rights defenders are facing the wrath of 295-C. Many innocent people are languishing behind bars in various jails of the country on allegations of being blasphemers. Last year a reputed lawyer and Human Rights Defender Mr. Rashid Rehman of Multan was shot dead by terrorists whose fault was that he was fighting a case of a lecturer in one of Multan Universities where he was alleged to have committed blasphemy in his face book account by his rival fellow lecturers and teachers of the university. Salman Taseer then governor of the Punjab was also assassinated by his own police guard on the basis he defended an innocent Christian lady who was alleged to have committed blasphemy. Similarly in Qasur, Punjab a couple was set on fire in a brick kiln. Pakistan is an unsafe country for religious minorities and human rights defenders. Terrorists and their apologists have two types of weapons to use against an HRD and religious minorities. Gun, suicide bomber and 295-C are the weapons usually are used against Human Rights Defenders and religious minorities. State is so indifferent to issues of citizens’ protection that it never bothers to protect them. No one can say anything to supporters and apologists of the terrorists. Even parliamentarians have no courage to pray for their colleague and a governor is unable to find any lawyer to defend him. On other side a killer is surrounded by hundred of thousand of lawyers and he is offered with legal service. What a state we are living in?

I, once again demand of government of Punjab to provide security to Mushtaq Gill and his family and arrest culprits.

Regards

Zar Ali khan Afridi

Human Rights Defenders

Chairman

Tribal NGOs Consortium

FATA-Pakistan

tncfata@gmail.com    

Local people are asked questions entering Peshawar cantt.

On each and every check point entering Peshawar cantt one will see a security personnel asking questions from residents of Peshawar, Pakhtunkwa and FATA as to who are they and where they have come from and for what? One wonders as to what reply be given to a person who even does not know language of people whom he poses questions. Such questions are asked particularly from people with white collars. God knows why? Are they afraid from white collared people and such are strangers for them. When one enters deans trade center in Peshawar he/she faces cloth frisking fatigue by ignorant and unskilled and untrained guards. Interestingly they leave people sporting beards and apparently having links with so called proscribed terrorist organizations but as for as clean shaven white collared people are concerned they are frisked every time while entering Deans Plaza though one will be there for last 6-7 years. Military security personnel also ask questions from ladies. At least culture sensitivity needs to be recognized and understood. If they are smart enough then lady soldiers or helpers should be kept standing on all check points. many of friends who are regularly shuttling between Peshawar and FATA have such grievances and complaints against attitude of security forces. 

Samiullah afridi Advocate death condoled and termed as a great loss for Human Rights Defenders in FATA

 Zar Ali Khan Afridi Chairman Tribal NGOs Consortium strongly condemns the brutal killing of Samiullah Afridi Advocate and termed it as a great loss for the tribal areas called FATA. He was a noble soul and extended all out his possible support to people of FATA who were in need for legal and law related issues. He did his best to work for abolishing of FCR 1901 from FATA and to get his   voiceless people emancipate from the cruel clutches of an out dated, savage, cruel and inhuman system there. He was a man par excellence to defend human rights in FATA and his martyrdom showed it that he sacrificed his own precious life for the sake of his deprived people and an area which is known as human rights free zone. He laid down his life for a noble cause and that,s the reason that he will be remembered by his people  for a long time to come. God bless him. 

A man of 65 years of age is going to marry a child of 12 in Khyber Agency

Through some reliable sources from Landi Kotal Khyber Agency i have come to know that a man who is 65 years of age in Kogakhel, Ashrafkhel shinwari is going to tie a knot with a small girl whose age is said to be 12. The man in question is ailing for last several years and has gone under three heart surgeries. This is very inhuman for a man to marry a girl child of 12. Concerned authorities are demanded to intervene into matter and save the girl child from prangs of this cannibal. Tribal NGOs Consortium is strongly opposed to  early child and enforced marriages in FATA.

Regards
Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Tribal NGOs Consortium condemns terrorist attack on Christians in lahore

Tribal NGOs Consortium strongly condemns terrorist attack on two churches in Lahore, the capital of Punjab yesterday where innocent worshipers were targeted by terrorists and 16 of them died and many got wounded. In Pakistan religious minorities are very soft targets for terrorists and continue sly targeting them has become like a routine. This is tragic indeed. Pakistani society has turned radicalized and very intolerant due to successive military dictatorship especially started from the epoch of general Ziaul Haq in the decade of 1980s. Religious Minorities particularly Christians, Hindus, Ahmadis etc are regularly targeted. Their houses, educational institutes, places of worships and community centers are hit by terrorists and set on fire. Few months ago a christian couple was set a blazed by fire and condemned them to death after leveling a fake, groundless and fabricated case of blasphemy. We demand of government to stop terrorists doing havoc with life and property of religious minorities and co Muslim Ahli Tasheh.

Regards
Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Civil Society Called for co-operative relationships durable partnerships between Civil Society and Government

Press Release

In the context of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa NGOs are working to enhance our national development assets as they mobilize financial, material and human resources at local and external levels in support of social and economic development that adequately includes the needs of grass root communities -urban and rural.

A Consultation session was jointly organized by Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, Tribal NGOs Consortium, EVAW/G KP and FATA and MEN UNiTE Allaince  in Nowshera Press Club on Legal and regulatory framework affecting NGOs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to discuss the Fears, Expectation and Way Forward). The consultation aimed at looking into possibility to improve coordination among NGOs and registration authorities and asked the Social Welfare Department to promote “durable partnerships” with civil society organizations so that their enormous potential as agents of social change and development will be fully realized. The participants of the consultation said that less efforts have been seen  so far from the Govt side to formulate Strategic Partnerships with NGOs and both side must start communication and collaboration to create an enabling environment for building “co-operative relationships” and, possibly, “durable partnerships” between NGOs and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The participants of the consultation expressed their serious concern on the increasing criminalization of dissent and the strict and hostile legal and social environment for the civil society. The Civil Society Alliances Jointly rejected the statement of Meher Taj Roghani advisor to the Chief Minister which she made on 5 December 2014 and made a stamen to cancel the registration of 3,000 non-governmental organizations (NGO) because according to the Govt they are not functional, most of these organizations are small community based organization or small size NGOs.

The Civil Society alliances demanded the social welfare department to hold and withdraw the notification of deregistering 3000 community based NGOs as this action is unlawful and unconstitutional and if the notification is not stopped, the civil society alliances will jointly consult High court through a writ petition against this unconstitutional action. The representative of alliances mentioned that the Constitution of Pakistan gives the right to everyone to form an association or union. According to Article 17 “every citizen shall have the right to form associations or unions, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by the law in the interest or integrity of Pakistan, public order or morality. It is illegal for the KP Govt to issue a general order to deregister 3000 NGOs with a notification only.

The consultation concluded that more close coordination is required between Govt and Civil Society to reduce gaps, voice concerns and come up with recommendations which can contribute in the coherent policy framework at the same there should be coordinated efforts by both Govt and Civil Society and build the capacity of small NGOs so that they can show compliance with registration requirement which is equally beneficial for Govt and the development sector. 

ANTI-TERRORISM MEASURES IN PAKISTAN: AUTHORITIES URGED TO SEE CIVIL SOCIETY AS PARTNERS NOT OPPONENTS

http://civicus.org/index.php/en/media-centre-129/press-releases/2170-anti-terrorism-measures-in-pakistan-authorities-urged-to-see-civil-society-as-partners-not-opponents

Details

Category: Media Releases

Published on Tuesday, 20 January 2015 23:10

20 January 2015 - Civil society in Pakistan, which already faces severe restrictions, is facing further threats to its freedom, following the horrific terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar last December.

CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations, Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCSN) and the Tribal NGOs Consortium (TNC) are dismayed at attempts to silence independent civil society groups who have been at the forefront of condemning religious extremism in Pakistan over the last decade. Despite civil society’s important role in promoting peace and tolerance, the government is planning to introduce a controversial foreign funding law, which will vest officials with excessive powers to control and suspend the activities of NGOs that rely on funds from international sources. It is expected that a draft bill (the Foreign Contributions Regulation Act 2015) will be submitted for government approval later this month.

“Civil society and the Pakistani state actually share a common objective in ending violence and promoting reconciliation in what is a volatile political climate. Instead of viewing civil society organisations as an enemy, the Pakistani state should instead see them as a vital ally,” said Mandeep Tiwana, Head of Policy and Research at CIVICUS. 

Current plans to introduce the proposed law on international funding in Pakistan follow a number of arbitrary restrictions imposed on civil society activities in 2014. In December last year, CIVICUS’ networks warned about official plans to cancel the registration of 3000 small-sized and mostly rights-based CSOs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (the north-west province of Pakistan, known for violent clashes between the Taliban and the Pakistani army) after a senior official announced plans to impose stricter scrutiny on CSOs’ finances and operational procedures. In April 2014, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with international aid organisations were unilaterally suspended putting several social development projects at risk.   

“Freedom of association is protected by the Constitution of Pakistan but authorities are preventing us from exercising our most fundamental rights,” said Zar Ali Khan from the Tribal NGOs Consortium, a network of 100 rights-based civil society organisations operating in Pakistan’s north-west. 

A number of prominent Pakistani human rights defenders are worried that some of the government’s efforts to combat terrorism will infringe on civil society’s basic freedoms and reduce its ability to challenge religious fundamentalism. In addition, civil society groups have expressed concerns about the legality of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s20 point plan to combat terrorism unveiled on 25 December 2014. The plan includes reinstating military courts to try terrorism suspects for a period of two years and reinstating the moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism related cases. 

“We demand that the fight against terrorism is carried out in line with international human rights standards. Two wrongs don’t make a right,” said Taimur Kamal Coordinator of the Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCSN). 

CIVICUS, Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCSN) and the Tribal NGOs Consortium (TNC) urge the Government of Pakistan to see CSOs as partners in Pakistan’s anti-terrorism programmes and remove unwarranted restrictions on legitimate civil society activities. 

ENDS