Mr Ihtisham Mulagoris should be released immediately

Mr Ihtisham a 16 years old boy has been detained by Political Administration of Khyber Agency FATA in Pakistan for the last 3 months over a monetary dispute between two parties. The child is innocent and has no role in this business. His mother is ill and her health is going to be deteriorated with each passing day. We sent several requests to political Administration and all concerned quarters to release the child but no progress has been made yet since last three months. All those like us working for the release of the child also face problems from the Administration and the affected family is threatened with dire consequences if publicized and further share information with media and Human Rights Organizations and Human Rights Defenders. Frontier Crimes Regulations of 1901 have been reformed recently in 2011. Now child under the age of 16 and aged persons above 65 could not be arrested under territorial responsibility clause of FCR.

FATA Children Rights are needed to be protected: Said Zar Ali Khan Afridi to participants of a dialogue on occasion of Universal Children Day

20^th November, 2014

United Nations General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child(UNCRC) on 20^th November, 1989 and Pakistan was the first Muslim and the 6^th country in the world to sign and ratify the UNCRC on the 12^th November, 1990 with some observations and reservations which were latter in 1997 were withdrawn, Said Zar Ali Khan Afridi Coordinator Child Rights Movement FATA to participants of a dialogue arranged in FR Peshawar-FATA  to commemorate the day called Universal Children’s Day. He said that this time it is 25^th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child. He said solid steps have not been taken to protect children Rights in Pakistan in general and in FATA in particular. It is true that Pakistan has withdrawn all her reservations and observations but we see no progress in state of children. We see that Article 25 A has been incorporated in Pakistan constitution of 1973 that all children above 5 and below 16 will have to get education which is compulsory but still we observe that schools of our children are targeted in FATA. About 25 years ago we promised with our children that their rights would be protected and voices be heard but even today more than 0.6 million FATA children are leading a miserable life in camps and host families as Internally Displaced Persons many of whom are deprived of their basic rights called education. An abundant number of weapons, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and Mines hidden under earth surface in our region which is a conflict zone have left many handicapped, parentless and deprived of basic education. Thousands children have been trained by terrorist out fits and groups are being used as suicide bombers who explode themselves and destroy valuable lives and property. Dozens are imprisoned in jails and lock ups of political Administration of FATA under inhuman regulations called Frontier Crimes Regulations 1901.  No law related to children protection has been extended to FATA as FATA is governed under Article 247 of Constitution and this does not allow jurisdiction of any court of the country to exercise power there and protect children rights.

Zar Ali Khan Afridi thanked participants who had come from far and wide of the FATA and participated in such a great and important dialogue over the rights of children on Universal Children Day.

Regards

Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Coordinator

Child Rights Movement-FATA

+92-91-3015963337 

Minorities rights are needed to be protected in Pakistan

19^th November, 2014

We should focus our attention on the Minorities Rights in Pakistan as rights of common people are violated in general while Minorities Rights are violated in particular. Blasphemy law in Pakistan is misused and is often used against Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, and other Minorities and the recent example is before our eyes where in Qasur Punjab a wife and her spouse were burnt alive by charged mob over the allegations of a brick kiln owner who had a monetary issue with the couples but used blasphemy law against the couples and were burnt alive which is a sorry state of affairs. Similarly Salman Taseer a former Governor of Punjab was murdered over the same allegations. These views were expressed by Zar Ali Khan Afridi during a seminar in Peshawar over the rights of Minorities in Pakistan. Muhammad Ali Jinnah who is known as father of Pakistan stated to constituent Assembly on 11^th of August, 1947 that all citizens are equal and have equal rights irrespective of any religion any one belongs to. But today we have forgotten it and gave state in mouth of monsters who have their own interpretation of religion.  Minorities in FATA have also so many issues like issue of domiciles, CNICs, residence, graveyards and job quata. Said Zar Ali Khan Afridi today.

Tribal NGOs Consortium and Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network condemn decision of Provincial Assembly of stopping resolution regarding Malala yousafzai Noble Peace Prize

31 October, 2010

Peshawar(          ): Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network and Tribal NGOs Consortium in a joint statement issued to  media have condemned  the decision of JI and JUI for stopping of passing of resolution regarding noble peace Prize of Malala Yousafzai. Zar Ali Khan Afridi chairman Tribal NGOs Consortium and Taimur Kamal Coordinator Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network have said that JUI and JI have supported in passing resolution in National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assembly they both showed hypocrisy and did not help to pass resolution in support of Noble Peace prize.  They passed resolution of Afia siddiqi who is an American national and has no relation with Pakistan. She was punished by an American court and sentenced her according to the law of land while Malala was hit by terrorists but God saved her and a peace prize was awarded to her which is a pride for us all. She is a child and works for peace promotion and children education. It is evident from her commitment that she gave away all her prize money to the cause of children schools and providing 50000 dollars to a Gaza school is a clear example of her love for education and humanity while JUI and JI are speaking loudly but performance is zero. We demand Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to pass the resolution and show to the world that you are not standing with terrorists and siding with those who are working for peace promotion and children education.

Regards

Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Chairman

Tribal NGOs Consortium

03015963337

Taimur Kamal

Coordinator

Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network

03005862104

Religious Minority in FATA is needed to be brought in mainstream: Zar Ali Khan

27^th October, 2014

The status of minority in FATA is not different from rest of country and even worse because in FATA there is no land settlement except Kurram Agency and it is the main reason that minority especially Christians have issues of  obtaining domiciles, CNICs and other important  documents. They have issues of cemetery to bury their dead. Similarly they have problems in getting land for their residential purpose. Besides they face numerous issues in day to day life. They love their mother land more than other tribesmen and women and we witnessed this love in our IDPs when a Christian IDPs lady was heard saying that she needed nothing but wants to back home in Miranshah in North Waziristan. When such people are not accepted as sons and daughters of the soil then who will be there asked Zar Ali Khan Afridi during his talks to participants in a dialogue organized by SAP-PK Peshawar in Peshawar today over Minority rights. He said Sikh community is absorbed in tribes and it is reason that Sikh community does not face such problems.  In Europe and US people get citizenship in five year but in FATA Christians did not get it despite passing of hundred years. Christians have come to Landi kotal in 1914 but still they are not citizens  which is injustice.  He also condemned killing of people in FATA on name of religion. He also advised participants not to use the word Minority as it is not a nice word to be used. We are human beings and all are citizens who need rights. FATA has more than 50 thousand minority which needs attention as they face issues and  those issues are required to be resolved.

Regards

Zar Ali Khan Afridi

A Human Rights Defender

And Executive Director

Society for Rights and Development

FATA

+92-91-3015963337, tncfata@gmail.com, srd.org.pk@gmail.com

General Appeal for assistance of IDPs of North Waziristan for Winter

27^th 2014

 Approximately 1 million people were displaced from North Waziristan due to military operation which was launched in June 15, 2014. When the operation launched it was summer and people had to use light clothes and beds for sleeping purpose. Now the winter has set in and IDPs especially women and children need warm clothes and beds to protect them from severity of the season. People are in a large number and more and more philanthropists and donor agencies will have to support them. If beds and warm clothes are provided in time then we are sure to save more and more people especially women and children. If not provided then there is a fear that people particularly women and children will suffer from various diseases related to winter.

You are requested to extend your all out possible assistance in this regard to save the people i.e women and children. Any one wants to extend assistance can contact us on our given emails or the contact number.

Regards

Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Executive Director

Society for rights and Development

Chairman

Tribal NGOs Consortium

Coordinator

Child Rights Movement-FATA

tncfata@gmail.com

crmfata@gmail.com

srd.org.pk@gmail.com

+92-91-3015963337

A brief report on IDPs children from North Waziristan

Reported by Zar Ali Khan Afridi

27^th June, 2014

North Waziristan is one of the seven Agencies of Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan FATA. Basically Waziristan has been administratively divided into two parts one is called South Waziristan and other is known as North Waziristan. North and South Waziristan agencies were formed in 1896 by The English then rulers of undivided India. This is a mountainous region and bordering with Afghanistan which covers an area of 11,585 square kilometers. Miramshah is the head quarters of North Waziristan where political Administration and its offices are present.  Total distance between Bannu a settled district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and North Waziristan is not more than 30 kilometers. It is just one hour drive from Bannu to Miramshah in peace time while in present situations it takes days and nights to reach Bannu. In North Waziristan two main Pashtun tribes are residing.   They are Wazir and Dawar.

Waziristan became very famous after 2001 when foreign forces came to Afghanistan to flush out terrorists from there. It is believed that thousands of foreign ethnic and local Taliban took refuge in Waziristan. Here this should be clarified that the terrorists were not invited rather they came themselves and made people of Waziristan as hostage. May be few people might have sided with them for their material gain etc. but the rest were against advent of terrorists to Waziristan. For the last 10 years Pakistan military is present in Waziristan and several operations against terrorists have been launched but none has shown any good result. This time Government has taken a decision to wipe out all terrorists from Waziristan and clear the area from terrorism. Pakistan Army launched an operation in recent days on June 15, 2014 in Waziristan called Zarb-i-Azb. This operation has also sparked humanitarian crisis. According to an estimate by Afghanistan government over 60,000 people have fled to Afghanistan to take refuge there.  

The number of people displaced from North Waziristan has increased to over 455000 people with over 74 percent of those displaced, women and children.

Only on June 23, 2014 after operation launched on 15^th of June, 2014 total families were displaced from North Waziristan two sub division Mir Ali and Miram shah. The break up is as given.

Total families registered: 36392

Number of Male: 118753

Female: 142113

Children:  0.3 million

Total individuals: 450681

Out of which only 20 families opted to stay in a camp set up by Government for IDPs at Bakakhel an area of FR-Bannue which is a tribal territory.

When IDPs at a camp were asked about situations of children in present day crisis, their problems and needs they replied like it.

A center at Madrassa Haqqania has been established for children where they are provided shelter, food and lodging. As for as 120 children are missing. Only 20 of them have been recovered so for and the rest are not known as where they have gone to. It means 100 children are reported to have gone missing.  More than 100 children died during travelling. Now a day there is summer and weather is very harsh. Sun is scorching children. Dehydration issues erupted and many children were perished without being noticed. No one cares for children. In wars and conflicts women and children are prone. They are targeted. Same is case with us and our children who are very much vulnerable,  Said one of the IDPs without disclosing his name due to fear of both military and militants and political administration who have directed orders to them not to come closer with people who ask you questions. So  most of the participants avoided interacting with us to talk clearly because Damocles sword seemed hanging over their heads. One of the participants said that a tractor trolley was taking three families which over turned during its journey from North Waziristan to Bannu. On way it overturned and immediately 4 children died and 16 other are still lying in Hospital. Name of Hospital is Khalifa Gul Nawaz which is a famous hospital of Bannu. In Bannu there is no electricity and load shedding is very frequent so health condition of children is worst. Due to harsh summer weather many children died. Thousand suffer from diarrhea, dehydration, scabies, and many more diseases. Children are wearing chappals which are also harmful for children. Children also lack food as food is not sufficient for families and in package children have been neglected. Their priority needs include protection, food, shelter, health, water, sanitation, fans, solar system, hygiene kits etc.

Due to restrictions on National and International NGOs and donor agencies situations of children can not be improved so government should be requested to allow donor organizations to extend assistance to IDPs in general and children of IDPs in particular.

Total number of children of IDPs are exceeding 0.2 million so for said  Irfan Durrani an ex MPA of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and nephew of Akram Khan Durrani former Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan.  Children suffer most. We know there are problems of every thing and government has imposed restriction on NGOs which speaks apathy on part of government. He said children need dry milk, nets to be protected from mosquitoes, food, biscuits, garments, shoes, schools, drinking water, solar system and protection houses in case of orphans or missing.  Most of children who are orphans they neither have families nor are having CNICs. So they are not registered. Their registration is needed.  Those IDPs who have come on straight road from North Waziristan to Bannu and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa they have been formally registered but there are thousand and thousand who have come through mountains or other ways and roads they have not been registered. They need registration. Their children who are thousand in numbers should also be registered immediately as they need food, cash and protection. Missing and orphan children issue is alarming because in such like situations children traffickers also become active. They catch such children especially girls children and use them for their nefarious designs and vested interest. Government needs mechanism for it because it is a serious issue and up till now no action has been taken so for and no seriousness has been shown in this regard to tackle this important problem confronting children.

A special distribution point is needed to be opened for children.  Pediatricians and psychologists are also needed for children to bring them out of trauma. Many children are still afraid of military personnel when they look at them plying on roads.  Special hospitals for children and women are needed to be opened immediately. UNICEF should be allowed to work for children welfare in camps and other places where IDPs children are living with their families. Many children are stuck up along with their families in North Waziristan who could not find way to come out or many are living in mountainous areas who did not understand situations. They are in their homes. Government is not allowing them to come out of their homes. They have nothing to eat. Their children are suffering from food shortage, medicines, disease, etc. There are males who have gone to North Waziristan from Bannu to bring the left over members of the families the government has clamped curfew for indefinite time and they are stuck up there. The children are suffering here in Bannu and male members are confined to their homes in North Waziristan who can not come out of their houses. No there is neither food with them nor other edible so there is a humanitarian crisis. This needs to be resolved immediately.

Officials of one of the aid agencies working there on condition of not disclosing their names as they are not authorized to talk to media or other who work for welfare of children at camp said, that they have treated only 450 children between 0-15 years so for. He said respiratory tract infections are common due to long travelling and dust in area. Diarrhea, scabies, and other skin related diseases are common.  Provision of ORL in case of dehydration is very important.  Besides, trauma centers should also be established, milk, food items and many such things which are related to children are needed to be provided to children. Toys are also very precious things for children which should also be provided.  

Issues and recommendation regarding children of IDPs

1.       They need food, drinking water, nets to be protected from mosquitoes and dry milk.

2.       They need hospitals and doctors to be treated as most of the children are suffering from diarrhea, dehydration and skin diseases

3.       They need pediatricians and psychologists

4.       Trauma centers are needed to be set up.

5.       Unregistered children especially orphans who are having no family should be registered and all needs and facilities should be provided to them.

6.       Children need protection as most of families are unprotected because they have nothing to protect themselves.

7.         Most of children are missing.  Special  centers are needed to be set up to help them recover and meet them with dears and nears.

8.        Sports equipments and toys should be provided to them.

9.       Children also need to be protected sexually, emotionally and physically.

10.   Schools are needed to be established and books, copies, bags and stationery etc should be provided.

11.   ORS is also needed as most of children are leading their days and nights under open sky in scorching heat in summer.

12.   Solar fans and solar energy system is one of the foremost needs of children as load shedding has bewildered children.

13.   Child Rights related NGOs and donor agencies including UNICEF should be allowed to work there for welfare and protection of children of IDPs.

Regards

Zar Ali Khan Afridi

Executive Director

Society for Rights and Development

Chairman

Tribal NGOs Consortium

Coordinator

Child Rights Movement FATA

+92-301596333

Email: tncfata@gmail.com

crmfata@gmail.com