Speakers for Empowering HEC to Close Illegal Varsities
Dawn Islamabad
November 30, 2004
by Our Staff Reporter

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) should be empowered to a level at which it is in a position to close down illegal universities. This was the consensus reached at a seminar on "Quality of Higher Education, Accountability Questioned", organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Isa Daudpota of Comstech Centre for Frontier Technologies, said the HEC had failed to implement the provisions of its ordinance on checking universities offering PhD degrees without fulfilling the prerequisites. Dr Daudpota, who had been highlighting cases of fake PhD degrees at various forums, said under its ordinance, the HEC had been empowered to monitor and subsequently take action against institutions involved in 'selling' PhD degrees. "Due to political considerations, the commission has also deliberately ignored a number of cases of legislators, who have obtained fake degrees to get into the parliament."

Over the last decade, a surge in establishment of degree- awarding institutions has been witnessed in the private sector with majority of these coming no where near the HEC's laid down standards, he added. As a result, the Comstech official said, students were being robbed of their precious time and money, while the HEC was reluctant to take its responsibility in this connection. However, recently the HEC has launched a media campaign titled "Parents Alert" to inform the people about the recognized universities in the private sector, he added.

Suggesting stricter measures, Dr Daudpota said it was high time to talk about this issue seriously and take all quarters concerned on board in the fight against this problem, which could further deteriorate the educational standards. Prof (Dr) Mohammad Pervez of the National Institute of Psychology, Quaid-i-Azam University, also criticized the federal and provincial governments for, what he said, generously awarding charters both in private and public sectors.

"This is ridiculous and a joke with the higher education sector and the country. "The government just to create new posts of vice-chancellors and eventually adjust their cronies against these vacancies is playing with the quality of education," he added. At present, Prof Pervez said, getting charter for a university meant securing a licence to mint money, adding that during the last one decade, setting up of a university had more to do with business than promoting higher education.

"Of course, political considerations had been a dominant factor in granting a charter to set up a university in the private sector," he said. HEC Quality Assurance Programme Development Officer Zia Batool, in her presentation, talked about various measures the commission was taking for assuring quality in the higher education sector. She informed the gathering that the HEC was developing a ranking system for universities and subsequently their funding would be linked with their performance. On January 1, 2005, the commission will issue a list of public-sector universities showing their ranking for the information of masses, she said. Initially, she added, some of the universities expressed their reluctance in getting into this ranking system, knowing the fact that their funding would be linked with their performance, however, the HEC stuck to its initiative.

Call for Appointing Vice-chancellors through Commission
Business Recorder Islamabad
November 30, 2004
by Peer Muhammad

Speakers at a seminar asked the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to appoint universities vice-chancellors through a national commission comprising individuals having outstanding record in the field of education. Addressing a seminar organized by the Sustainable Development and Policy Institute (SDPI) on "Quality of Higher Education and Accountable Questioned" here on Monday, they said that standard of higher education should not be compromised at any cost and added that transparency in imparting higher education must be ensured.

Dr Isa Daudpota, an imminent educationist, expressed his concern over hiring of faculty with fake degrees, thus making these institutions dubious and the quality of education provided highly questionable.

He pointed out that the HEC could do much better if it implemented its own ordinance in spirit. He further said that the HEC should evaluate the performance of institutes, prescribe conditions under which all institutions may be opened or operated, carry out accreditation of institutions and give them rating, advising federal and provincial governments on proposals for awarding degrees.

Dr Mohammad Pervez, professor at the Quaid-e-Azam University, said that many institutions did not have qualified faculties, who were given the charter and the green signal to go ahead.

Dr A. H. Nayyar from SDPI said the process of giving charter needed to be made transparent and added that unless a legal mechanism was qualified, no institution should be given a charter.

Ms. Zia Batool from the HEC talked about mechanism for quality assurance in higher education system. She highlighted goals of the quality enhancement program of the HEC, which were to assist universities in enhancing quality of education through development of criterion for self-assessment and establishment of quality enhancement cells.

Quality of Higher Education Discussed
Pakistan Observer Islamabad
November 30, 2004

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) organized a
seminar on "Quality of Higher Education, Accountability Questioned" here Monday. The speakers from various higher educational institutions discussed the mechanisms, accountability and quality assurance by the Higher Education Commission (HEC).

Dr Isa Daudpota who has been just fired from his job for writing critical articles on the plight of higher education, brought to the attention of the audience the crisis of higher education in Pakistan in his presentation entitled "When Fake becomes Real". He shared his concern about hiring of faculty with fake degrees thus making institutions dubious in character and the quality of education highly questionable.

Daudpota argued that HEC is not playing an effective role as it gives charter to private universities without ensuring quality. He believes HEC can do much better if it implements its own ordinance in letter and spirit, evaluate performance of institutions, prescribe conditions under which institutions may be opened or operated, carry out accreditation of institutions and give them rating, advise federal and provincial governments on proposals for awarding degrees, and determine equivalence and recognition of degrees and diplomas awarded by institutions in Pakistan and abroad. He
also said that he has written 19 articles on this subject since May 2003 and has been kept Dr Atta-ur-Rahman and HEC high-ups informed but they did not take note of the points raised. Only when his recent article pointed to gross violations and named names then did the HEC wake up.

Ms Zia Batool from the Higher Education Commission talked of the mechanisms for quality assurance in higher education systems. She highlighted the goals of the quality enhancement programme of HEC, which are to assist universities in enhancing the quality of education through development of criteria for self-assessment and establishment of quality enhancement cell.

Dr Mohammad Pervez, Professor from Quaid-i-Azam University brought to the notice of the audience that political and vested pressures paved way for private universities to mushroom. He alleged that institutes that did not have qualified faculty were given charters and green signal to go ahead with awarding degrees.

Dr A H Nayyar from SDPI pointed out that the process of giving charter needs to be made transparent. Charter-giving guidelines need to be laid down. There should be a law that no charter would be given unless approved by HEC and legal mechanism was not fulfilled, no institution should be given a charter. There has to be effective monitoring mechanism. Mr Wajahat Latif, ex-IG Police said strict accountability is required in the education sector.

During the discussion, the audience pointed out legal issues, which are being neglected. If fake and substandard degrees are being dished out, then why legal action is not being taken against those who have obtained them.

HSC Urged to Implement its Ordinance in Letter and Spirit
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad
November 30, 2004

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) organised a seminar on 'Quality of Higher Education, Accountability Questioned' here on Monday. Speakers from various higher education institutions discussed the mechanisms, accountability and quality assurance by the' Higher Education Commission (HEC), Says a press release.

Dr. Isa Daudpota, who has been just fired from his job for writing critical articles on the plight of higher education, brought to the attention of the audience the crisis of higher education in Pakistan in his presentation titled 'When Fake Becomes Real.' He shared his concern about hiring of faculty with fake degrees thus making these institutions dubious in character and the quality of education provided, highly questionable.

Daudpota argued that the HEC is not playing an effective role by giving charter to private universities without ensuring quality. He believes that the HEC can do much better if it implements its own ordinance in letter and spirit; evaluate the performance of institutes, prescribe conditions under which' all institutions may be opened or operated, carry out accreditation of institutions and give them rating, advise federal and provincial governments, on proposals for awarding degrees and determine: equivalence and recognition of degrees and diplomas awarded by institutions in Pakistan and abroad. He said that he has written 19 articles on this subject since May, 2003 and has kept Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman and other HEC high-ups in formed but they did not take notice of it. Only when his recent article pointed to gross violations and named names did the HEC wake up.

Ms. Zia Batool from the Higher Education Commission talked of the mechanisms for quality assurance in higher education systems. She highlighted the goals of the quality enhancement programme of HEC, which are to assist universities in enhancing the quality of education through development of criteria for self-assessment and establishment of quality enhancement cell.

Dr. Mohammad Pervez, professor from Quaid-i-Azam University, said that even institutes that did not have qualified faculty were given the charters and the green signal to go ahead.

Dr. A H Nayyar from SDPI pointed out that the process of giving charter needs to be made transparent. Charter-giving guidelines need to be laid down. There should a law that no charter can be given unless approved by the HEC. Unless a legal mechanism is not fulfilled, no institution should be given a charter. There has to be effective monitoring mechanism.

Wajahat Latif, former inspector general of police, said that strict accountability is required in the education sector.

During the discussion, the audience pointed out legal issues, which are being neglected. If fake and substandard degrees are being dished out, then why legal action is not being taken against those who have obtained them.

There was also a strong opinion that vice-chancellors should not be chosen by governors as political appointees rather they should be chosen by a national commission comprising outstanding individuals. There should be transparency in HSC. There was lots of criticism of HEC's "quantity over quality" approach. By emphasising to dish out thousands of Ph.Ds, HEC is compromising on quality. An assembly line production approach is ill-suited for higher education, they added. A civil servant pointed out that Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman promised connecting 97% of people with the internet without looking at the literacy levels in the country. The same thing is happening to HEC. Instead of concentrating on numbers, HEC should work on making the higher education system conducive for thinking independently.

HEC Compromising on Quality Education: Experts
Nation Islamabad
November 30, 2004
by Lamia Zia

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is not playing an effective role in the promotion of education and instead of focusing on improving the standard of higher education, it has given recognition to private universities without ensuring quality.
These were the views shared by participants of a seminar on “Quality of Higher Education, Accountability Questioned”, organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), here on Monday.

The speakers from various higher education institutions discussed the mechanisms, accountability and quality assurance by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and maintained that HEC is compromising on quality.

Sharing the experiences, Dr Isa Daudpota, who has been just fired from his job for writing critical articles on the plight of higher education, brought to the attention of the audience the crisis of higher education in Pakistan in his presentation entitled “When Fake Becomes Real”.
He shared his concern about hiring of faculty with fake degrees thus making these institutions dubious in character and the quality of education provided, highly questionable.
Daudpota believes that HEC can do better if it implements its own Ordinance in spirit, evaluate the performance of institutes, prescribe conditions under which all institutions may be opened or operated, carry out accreditation of institutions and give them rating, advise federal and provincial governments on proposals for awarding degrees, and determine equivalence and recognition of degrees and diplomas awarded by institutions in Pakistan and abroad. He also said that he has written 19 articles on this subject since May 2003 and has kept Dr Attaur Rahman and HEC high-ups informed but they did not take note of it. Only when his recent article pointed to gross violations and named names did the HEC wake up, he said.

Zia Batool from the Higher Education Commission talked of the mechanisms for quality assurance in higher education systems. She highlighted the goals of quality enhancement programme of HEC, which are to assist universities in enhancing the quality of education through development of criteria for self-assessment and establishment of quality enhancement cell.

Dr Muhammad Pervez, Professor from Quaid-i-Azam University, brought to the notice of the audience that a professor from political and legal pressures that paved way for private universities to mushroom. So even institutes that did not have qualified faculty were given the charters and the green signal to go ahead.

Dr A. H. Nayyar from SDPI pointed out that the process of giving charter needs to be made transparent. There should a law that no charter can be given unless approved by HEC. Unless a legal mechanism is not fulfilled, no institution should be given a charter, he said.
Mr Wajahat Latif, ex-IG Police ,said that strict accountability is required in the education sector.
During the discussion, the audience pointed out legal issues, which are being neglected. If fake and substandard degrees are being dished out, then why legal action is not being taken against those who have obtained them?

There was also a strong opinion that Governors should not choose vice-chancellors as political appointees rather they should be chosen by a national commission comprising of outstanding individuals. There was lots of criticism of HEC’s “quantity over quality” approach. By emphasising to dish out thousands of Ph.D., HEC is compromising on quality. An assembly line production approach is ill suited for higher education, they added.

One civil servant pointed out that Dr Attaur Rahman promised to connect 97 per cent of the people with Internet without looking at the literacy levels. The same thing is happening to HEC. Instead of concentrating on numbers, HEC should work on making the higher education system conducive for thinking independently.

China Poses Strong Economic Threat to US: Expert
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad,
November 09, 2004
by Rasheed Khalid

It is unlikely that there would be challenge to the US power in the next decade though China is posing a strong economic threat, said Lieutenant General (r) Talat Masud. He was answering questions at a panel discussion on 'Re-election of Bush: impact on foreign policy' organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Monday.

Ta1at Masud said that China is a factory of the world though it so far had essentially middle quality level technologies. He said that Beijing is coming up fast but it is still two generations behind the West. He said that China is focusing on peace and stability in the region that suits its ascendance to economic progress. He noted that despite being an economic power, Europe relied on the US for military protection. He said that because of economic designs, the US might Want to control oilfields, stabilise unfriendly and back the friendly powers. He said that when in power, the US would like to shape the events in the world.

He said that in Iraq, it faced Catch 22 situation. If it goes to Fallujah, it would expose its weaknesses and if it doesn't, there will be enormous fallout to the US foreign policy. He said that there might be some change in the foreign policy in the second term of George W. Bush when every president in the second term liked to leave a legacy to carve a place in history. He said that the world is disappointed from President Bush and the main reason is Washington's continued support to Israeli that is antagonising the Muslims. He said that Europe would not like to become an instrument of the US foreign policy for its exit from Iraq or its engagements in South Asia and Middle East.

He said that in recent elections, international issues did not become determinant factors. Gay marriages, abortion, stem cell research and firearms were on top of the agenda due to the conservative nature of the American nation. He said that Bush is more conservative than John Kerry. This forced a journalist to quip that if MMA had been in the US, its members must have voted for George W. Bush as his policy coincides with outdated agenda of the religious alliance.

Masud said that there is nothing wrong with fundamentalism, as the real wrong is the transformation of a fundamentalist into an extremist. He said that neo-conservatives are very sharp and they exploited conservative character of the United States and focused on it. He did not expect much review of the US foreign policy. Neo-conservative agenda, he said, was a priority for this and it will remain there. He did not see major changes in the foreign policy of the US. The policy, he said, would be a combination of unilateralism and multilateralism. He said that the US would do whatever suited its interests.

He did not think chances of nuclear proliferation as long as our nuclear security regimes remain effective. Don't under-estimate Pakistan, he said. He said that stability of Pakistan would determine stability of South Asia, Central Asia and Middle East. He said that the West supports Musharraf so that our nuclear weapons do not go into the hands of irresponsible actors.

Dr. Noman Sathar from Area Study Centre, QAU, said that the US was never seen as a warmonger before 9/11 in the world history and the war is still continuing. Coming on-the speech of Talat, he said that the Americans are down to earth and hold very simplistic view of the world. Social and economic issues concern them more. He said that this time they had very different issues like rights of homosexuals, abortion etc. He said that they do not know why do they hate us, he said.

Dr. Najam Rafique from the Institute of Strategic Studies said that Bush himself is like a Taliban. He said that in this world, the strong do whatever they want and the weak suffer, as they had no options. He said that we are not bearing all this with fortitude but we are not able to make choices. We have to bear the US colonialism for the time to come, he said. He said that the Americans have no sense of geography and do not know where Pakistan is situated: He said that the Americans despite their level of education wanted Christians to do supreme, hence, they
voted for Bush.

Dr. A H Nayyar, said that Pakistan is not facing difficulty in the re-election of Bush. He said that fourth nuclear proliferator apart from Iran, North Korea and Libya, had not been identified so far and if the motives behind it come out different from the profit making by A Q Khan, the US would take lead in imposing strong restrictions and embargoes. He said that India is democratic and had a sound system of decision-making. He said that Pakistan had instability in the past and had uncertainty about future.

Bush’s 2nd Term to Affect Foreign Policy
The Nation, Islamabad
November 09, 2004

Speakers at a seminar on Monday optimistically projected the impact of re-election of US President Bush on United States foreign policy. All speakers at the seminar on Re-election of Bush: Impact on Foreign Policy," organised by sustainable Development Policy institute (SDPI), were generally to optimistic that re-election of Bush will have an impact on country's foreign policy, said a Press release issued by the SDPI.

The speakers cited the general perception that existed around the world on the re-election of Bush as negative, and observed that President Bush will not deviate to a large extent from his existing policies and will continue with more or less the same policies.

Talat Masood said, while we may criticize the US re-election of Bush but as a nation we must appreciate the electoral process. Stating the factors that determined the victory of the Republicans, Talat mentioned these factors as war on terror, action in Iraq and predominantly the social factors including, gay marriages, stem cell research and the abortion issues.

All these factors played a key role in determining the re-election of Bush, Talat added. Regarding US policy towards Pakistan, he said, "It. will be in continuity of the previous policy" and military, economic, and social assistance will continue for Pakistan and Pakistan India relations will continue to be promoted.

Dr Noman' Sattar, senior Research Officer, Area Study Center Quaid-i-Azam University said, 9/11 was the deciding factor in the re-election of Bush for his second term. Terrorism and security was the heartland of the American nation, which was well targeted in the election campaign, he said. Regarding foreign policy challenges, Dr Sattar said, the Bush regime will have to put in extra efforts towards. unification of not only the US nation but also international community, especially the European nations on the Iraq issue. Thus he not only has to reach out to democrats but also to the entire world, Sattar observed.

Najam Rafique, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Strategic Studies said, Bush administration, on the domestic side will have to do a lot of cleaning up like the 9/11 commission report.

Audiences agreed with the speakers but shared their apprehensions regarding the future of US Foreign Policy towards Pakistan. On one of the issues regarding the fate of American unilateraIism, speakers shared that the future US foreign policy will be a combination of unilateralism as well as multilateralism depending on the situation.

Bush’s Win Boon for Establishment, say Experts
Dawn, Islamabad
November 10, 2004
by Our Staff Reporter

The reelection of George W. Bush as US president is a boon for the establishment in Pakistan, as the latter had already' fit in with his policies and effectively taking care of the US interest in this part of the world. This was the gist of the comments made by experts at a seminar on "Re-election of Bush: Impact on Foreign Policy" organized by the Sustainable Development- Policy Institute (SDPl) here on Monday.

The speakers were of the view that President General Musharraf had cultivated a good working relationship with President Bush during his first term and Pakistan would be more than happy with his re-election. There was also a unanimity of views that as long as Pakistan took care of American interest in this region, it had nothing to worry about who was elected in the US. .

They were also of the considered opinion that traditionally, the Republican governments had been more friendly towards Pakistan than the Democrats. However, they shared their apprehensions about whether there would be any positive change in the US policies towards the Muslim world in general and Palestine-Israel conflict in particular.

As the entire world is expressing resentment at the re- election of President Bush, Americans have voted for the continuation of their supreme commander-in-chief, Talat Masood, a political analyst, said. Despite the fact that the US has got caught in a strategic, quagmire in Iraq" the US nationals have given more weightage to their national security issues, he said. He also rejected the impression' created by certain quarters that the US was in a Vietnam war-like situation. "No comparison can be made between the number of casualties the US suffered during Vietnam crisis and the ongoing war in Iraq," he argued.

With reference to the effect on India-Pakistan relations after President Bush's re-election, Mr. Talat said: "It would like to have peace between the two nuclear powers. About Kashmir issue, the US will like India to take All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) on board." Dr Noman Sathar, senior research fellow, Area Study Centre, Quaid-i-Azam University, supported Mr. Talat's point of view that Americans had voted Mr. Bush to power out of their national security concerns. Najam Rafique, research fellow, Institute of Strategic Studies, opined that the US was the sole super power of the world and would do everything, bad or good, to its favour.

Karokari bill passage ‘positive beginning’
The Nation Islamabad
November 02, 2004
by Lamia Zia

Barrister Zafarullah Khan, a government representative, on Monday said that the original law on honour killing, which he drafted, was totally different to the one passed by the National Assembly.

Speaking at a seminar on honour killing on behalf of Advisor to the Prime Minister on Women Development Nilofar Bakhtair, he said that despite the fact that the bill is not perfect, it should be considered as a positive beginning.

The seminar was organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Citizens' Action Group against Honor Killing (CAGAHK) titled "Bill against honour killing: Concerns addressed, unaddressed". Barrister Zafarullah Khan said that the government changed his drafted bill subsequently. "Though the approved bill is not perfect to overcome the issue of honor killing but we should welcome the initiative as a beginning," he said.

Pointing out the various positive changes he said, honour killing incidents used to occur within the families and existing laws do not allows testimonies among close family members. Whenever any effort is made for legislation in this regard, there would be room for the murderers to go free easily, he said.

While replying to a question regarding Qisas provision in the bill, he argued: "We cannot outrageously quit the provision of Qisas from the bill, because Sharaiat Court could react or object and may term the law redundant under the clause of the Constitution of Pakistan by the argument that this law is not according to the principles of Islam."

Dr Saba Gul Khattak, Executive Director of SDP1, who also chaired the seminar, was of the view that honor killing crime is a worst form of violence against women and it is institutionalized at all levels. "There is a need to change the behaviour of policy and decision makers," she said.

Senator Sana Baloch of Pakistan Oppressed Nation's Movement (PONM), observed that the state should be held accused if any honour killing incident occurs in the country as articles 37, 38 and 28 of the Constitution binds government to safeguard the rights of Women, children and men. He was of the view that: "State has never addressed the basic problems in society, which are flourishing and encouraging this kind of outdated custom of honour killing." "Upper Sindh, Baluchistan and Southern Punjab are the most affected areas because of this cruel custom which have been ignored by the decision makers," he said adding that awareness must be created to educate the masses according to their culture and language they speak. Only by hitting at the root causes we would be able to stop incidents of honour killing from the country, he said.

MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf of PPP-P said, honour killing is a stigma and black spot on the face of our society that has been misused against innocent people. He said that his party was first to submit a bill regarding violence against women including honour killing but government did not allow it to present the bill and finally the draft was replaced with another controversial legislation.

Societal values can help check ‘honour’ killings
Dawn Islamabad
November 02, 2004
by Our Staff Reporter

Laws are mere tools and only a society with strong values makes them effective for thwarting crimes like honour killings that are unfortunately, prevalent in our society. This was the gist of speeches at a seminar on "Bill against honour killings. Concerns addressed/unaddressed," organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday.

Barrister Zafarullah Khan of c the Jurisconsults, who originally drafted the bill on honour killings passed by the National Assembly last week, termed the draft law an encouraging beginning for a society where honour crimes were committed with pride. “Even if you come up with more stricter laws, the situation on the ground will remain the same, because we as a whole constitute a very week society in terms of collective as well as individual responsibilities," he maintained. People know what is honour killing and which class of society constitutes the major chunk of its perpetrators, he added. Moreover, he said, to award punishment to an accused, witnesses were required and in case of a typical honour killing, it was impossible to produce. Therefore, honour killings need to be taken in their broader perspectives after considering their social, political and economical repercussions.

He made a presentation and explained various clauses of the newly-passed bill vis-a-vis provisions of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for such crimes."We cannot outrightly reject the concept of Qisas and Diyat which is very much part of the Islamic jurisprudence; however, it has been misused. The Shariat Court has the power to strike down any law repugnant to the Islamic tenets," he said.

PPP MNA Raja Pervaiz Ashraf criticized the government for bulldozing the bill through the National Assembly without holding thorough discussion. Originally, he claimed, the bill was moved by PPP's Sherry Rehman; however, when the bill was sent to the standing committee, Ms Rehman was not even invited for discussion. In the end, the government passed" the bill which, he said, was a half-hearted attempt to fight the well-entrenched custom of honour killings. “My party has always upheld the concept of gender equality in the country and will keep on supporting initiatives aimed to promote women's rights," he said.

Senator Sanaullah Baloch argued that the phenomenon of honour killings was not sex and region-specific. He said men equally shared the burden of the menace and it was unjustified to suggest that only women were the victims of honour killings. He described poverty, unequal distribution of wealth and apathy of governments as the basic factors for the prevalence of honour killings. Dr Saba Gul Khattak, Executive Director SDPI, mediated the seminar.

Opposition to Fight Uniform Issue in Courts and Streets
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad
October 26, 2004
by Rasheed Khalid

Opposition MNAs have threatened to fight the case of uniform of Gen Musharraf, not only in courts of law but also through street power.

The MPs were speaking at a seminar on 'Retaining Two Offices under Sustainable Democracy' organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Monday. MNAs, Maimoona Hashmi (PML), Abdul Rauf Mengal (PONM) and Mohammad Laeeq Khan (Muttehidda Majlis-e-Amal) spoke from the opposition, but none was invited from the ruling coalition.

The opposition legislators claimed the President was defaming Pakistan in the eyes of international community by passing a controversial bill for retaining two offices. They said the law and order situation in the country was getting worst and that even worshippers were not safe in holy places. Broad daylight target killing of religious figures and men of prominence has further exposed the claims of the government that it was maintaining law and order in the country. They said that the government was ignoring real issues like poverty unemployment and security and trying to put forward the agenda that Musharaf's staying in uniform would solve all their problems.

Abdul Rauf Mengal said presenting and passing the bill on uniform with a simple majority was a shameful act and a darkest blot on the face of Parliament He said the MMA had played a vital role by supporting Gen. Musharraf in the passage of 17th Amendment that legitimized his rule.

He said with the passage of that bill an individual was made an all time powerful President and Parliament lost its utility. On the other hand, he said, people have been forced to hang themselves or commit suicides in other ways due to price hike, hunger, poverty and unemployment. He said "we are against all kind of terrorism, but killing innocent people are being in the military operation." Maimoona Hashmi was of the view that to fulfill the wish of Pervez Musharraf, Parliament is being used for unconstitutional and illegal acts.

She said the country's political history makes it clear that holding of two offices has already disintegrated Pakistan. She said she would never give-up or compromise on the uniform issue.

Mohammad Laeeq Khan said by not honouring the agreement with MMA, President Musharraf has made Pakistan' a joke around the world. He blamed the President for defaming Pakistan by his stubborn policy on this issue. He said “we have no other way left except going to the court of the people.

In the question hour, the participants questioned the role of judiciary in the past and asked the opposition to go and challenge the legitimacy given by Parliament to the Chief of Armed Forces to hold the office of President in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Judiciary Not Independent, says Maimoona
Dawn Islamabad
October 26, 2004
by Staff Reporter

Members of treasury benches did not come to defend the bill on uniform at a seminar, leaving the field open for the opposition members who opposed the legislation and crticized military's interference in politics.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MNA Kunwar Khalid Yunus and Pakistan Muslim League (PML) MNA Riaz Hussain Pirzada were to represent the government at a seminar on "Retaining Two Offices Under Sustainable Democracy" arranged by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute on Monday. However, when they did not show up, the organizers had to start the proceedings without them after a delay of one hour.

PML-N MNA Maimoona Hashmi, Balochistan National Party MNA Abdul Rauf Mengal and MNA Mohammad Laeeque Khan of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) represented the opposition parties.

One of the organizers announced that despite confirming their participation' even five minutes before the start of the seminar, both the treasury MNAs could not come. He said both the MNAs told him on telephone that they were late because of a quorum problem in the National Assembly, but they would definitely come. However, despite the fact the assembly session was over soon after 3pm, they did not come to the seminar that ended at 4:10pm.

Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Rauf Mengal said no dictator in the past ever tried to present such a bill in the parliament, despite the fact they also did various legislations to prolong their rule. He said the opposition parties were not given " sufficient time to speak on the bill.

Mr. Mengal also criticized the MMA for extending its support to the government during passage of the 17th Amendment bill. He said it was after the 17th Amendment that the National Security Council was set up.

He said the bill on uniform, passed by the National Assembly, was very damaging not only for the democracy, but also for the country. He said law and order situation had become worse and the security agencies were busy only in providing protection to the president and the prime minister, and had no concern for the safety of the people.

He said the opposition wanted that the military should perform its duties in accordance with the Constitution. The National Accountability Bureau, he said, had become a tool in the hands of the government to victimize its opponents. He also condemned conviction of ARD President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi and former NA speaker Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani. He said Mr. Hashmi was being punished because of his role in the struggle against dictatorship.

Mr. Mengal said treason cases were being registered against the people of Balochistan only because they were opposing establishment of cantonments in the province. He said the government had allocated Rs80 billion for setting up of cantonments in different parts of the province. He asked the government to spend this amount on setting up educational institutions, hospitals and drinking water schemes in the province. He said out of 26 divisions in Balochistan, there was electricity in only eight.

He said if opposing cantonments was tantamount to treason then they were ready to be called rebels.

PML-N MNA Maimoona Hashmi alleged that Gen Musharraf was "disgracing" the whole army by using his uniform only to prolong his rule. She said the country had to suffer a lot in the past due to military rules. The country lost several wars due to non- availability of full time army chief, she said.

The PML-N leader said the number of those living below poverty line had constantly been increasing during the past five years and it had touched the mark of 60 million. She' said the military rulers did not trust any one. Even the person who used to call Gen Musharraf his boss was removed from the office of the prime minister. She said a military general could not become a representative of people.

She said the judiciary was not functioning independently in the country as judges had taken oath under the PCO. She said when Shahbaz Sharif came to Pakistan, the whole Punjab police were deployed in Lahore, leaving the other people at the mercy of the criminals.

She said her father Makhdoom Javed Hashmi had been convicted for 23 years, only for raising voice for the people's rights and democracy. Such punishments were not even given by the British in the sub-continent, she added.

She regretted that Gen Musharraf himself had become the president, the army chief, the chief executive and the NSC chairman. She said the words uttered by Gen Musharraf became a law. She said when the president met foreign dignitaries he did not wear his uniform. "Why did he meet, Don McKinnon in civil dress," she asked. She said no one in the past could retain his uniform for long.

MMA leader Mohammad Laeeque Khan said the uniform had become a joke not only in the country, but it had also become an international issue. He also criticized the US, European countries and the Commonwealth for supporting dictatorship in Pakistan.

The MNA also criticized the legal advisers of Gen Musharraf for suggesting him legislations like bill on uniform. He said every military dictator used people like Sharifuddin Pirzada to prolong the rule. He said how could a person who travelled in three convoys defend the country or its people.

He said once again there were rumours that the prime minister was about to be changed. He said, the Constitution clearly stated that armyman could not take part in politics.

He defended the MMA's stand on the 17th Amendment and said the religious parties, alliance would not give more time to the general to stay in power, and expressed the hope that this would be the last military rule in the country.

WTO regime: job losses in textile sector feared
Dawn Islamabad
October 20, 2004
by a Reporter

The World Trade Organization (WTO) regime will have a potential impact on the economy with definite job losses in textile and clothing sectors.

Government officials, representatives of trade unions and labour-related development sector organizations at a workshop here on Tuesday discussed this concern and demanded that policy- makers, legislatures and industrialists place barriers on possible post-quota threats.

The workshop, titled "Textile and clothing sector workers in the post-quota era", was jointly organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute and Fredrich Ebert Stiftung, says a statement.

Trade unions and NGOs' representatives committed to forming a task force on Agreement on Trade and Clothing (ATC) and build networks with similar organizations in and outside Pakistan.

They urged the government to implement the existing labour laws and bring them in conformity with the ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. They further demanded that coherent industrial policy be developed with the participation of all stakeholders, including small and medium enterprises.

The participants said workers be provided facilities, both to families as well as to female and male bachelors, get duty free access to Pakistani garments to markets of the developed countries in bilateral trade agreements and organize a tripartite labour conference focusing ATC issues.

Employers were asked to ensure implementation of existing labour laws, including legal working time for all employed workers and contract labourers, respecting their freedom of association and collective bargaining.

Azam Mohammad from the ministry of commerce said there would be definite job losses after the post-quota era and this concern must be addressed immediately. He said the government was empowered to raise the tariffs under the WTO regime if they feared threats to any industry.

Textile Commissioner Idrees Ahmed admitted that without inclusion of representatives of labour unions and other civil society organizations, the recommendations would be baseless. "There is an immediate need to amend and rationalise labour laws to facilitate labours and industry owners," he added.

Joint Secretary ministry of labour Ata Mohammad Raja said after implementing the WTO laws, labourers in the ready-made garment sector would suffer the most. "Notwithstanding a long established and confident textile industry in Pakistan, we can not and should not rule out the possibility of uncompetitive units being closed down which may result in job losses for workers, including female workers," he observed.

WTO regime likely to hit textile sector workers
The Nation Islamabad
October 20, 2004
by Lamia Zia

Government of­ficials and representatives of trade unions and labour-related development sector organisa­tions Tuesday expressed concern over the possible job losses in tex­tiles and clothing sector after the potential impact of WTO regime.

They have demanded of the policymakers, legislators and in­dustrialists to stop possible post quota threats.

This was the crux of a consul­tation workshop on "Textile and Clothing Sector Workers in the Post Quota Era," jointly organ­ised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and' Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES).

The participants debated on the various threats and concerns after the possible,WTO regime implications and drafted an ac­tion plan to minimise the nega­tive impacts of the post quota era.

They demanded implementa­tion of these recommendations that require active participation of all the stakeholders. Karin Astrad Seigman, a for­eign expert facilitated the session regarding drafting the action plan. The participants from trade unions and NGOs committed to form a union task force on the Agreement on Trade and Cloth-' ing (A TC) and build networks with similar organisations in and outside Pakistan.

They urged the government to implement the existing labour laws, and bring them in conform­ity with ratified ILO Conven­tions; develop a coherent indus­trial policy with the participation of all the stakeholders including the-special concern of small and medium enterprises; provide la­bour colonies with facilities to workers, both to families, as well as to female and male bachelors; get duty free access to Pakistani garments to markets of devel­oped countries in bilateral trade agreements; and organise a tri­partite labour conference focus­ing ATC issues as soon as possi­ble.

Azam Muhammad from Com­merce Ministry said that there would definite be job losses af­ter the post quota era and those concerns must be addressed im­mediately. He was of the view that government is empowered to raise the tariffs under WTO regime if they observe a threat to any industry.

Textile Commissioner Idrees Ahmed admitted that the with­out. including representatives from labour unions and other civil society organisations, rec­ommendations would be use­less. "There is immediate need to amend and rationalise labour laws to facilitate labourers and industry owners," He added.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of La­bour Atta Muhammad Raja said that after implementing WTO laws, readymade garment sector labour would be the sufferer.

"Notwithstanding a long es­tablished and confident textile industry in Pakistan we cannot and should not rule out the pos­sibility of non-competitive units being closed down which may result in job losses for workers including the female workers in Pakistan." He observed.

People concerned at possible job cuts
The Frontier Post Peshawar
October 20, 2004

The gov­ernment officials, representa­tives of trade unions and labour-related development sector organizations have concerned over the definite job losses in Textiles and Clothing sector of Pakistan after the potential impact of WTO regime.

They have demanded from the policy makers, legislatures and industrialists to place barri­ers in front of possible post quota threats.

These recommendations were made during a consulta­tion workshop jointly orga­nized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) on the topic of "Textile and Clothing Sector Workers in the Post Quota Era" here.

Participants from numerous Trade Unions of national and provincial levels, representa­tives from Ministries of Labour, Textile, Commerce and development sector organiza­tions debated the various threats and concerns, due to possible WTO regime implica­tions and drafted an action plan to minimize the negative impacts of the post quota era.

They demanded that the implementation of these rec­ommendations requires and strengthens the active partici­pation of all stakeholders in the economy and overall society of country.

Karin Astrad Seigman facili­tated the session regarding drafting action plan. Participants from trade unions and NGOs committed to form a' union task force on the Agreement on Trade and Clothing (ATC) and build net­works with similar organiza­tions in and outside Pakistan.

They urged the government to implement existing labor laws and sanction their viola­tion and bring them in confor­mity with ratified ILO conven­tions, develop a coherent industrial policy with the par­ticipation of all stakeholders, including the special concern of small and medium enterpris­es, provide labor colonies with facilities to workers, both to families, as well as to female and male bachelors, get duty free access to Pakistani gar­ments to markets of developed countries in bilateral trade agreements and organize a tri­partite labor conference focus­ing ATC issues as soon as pos­sible.

Draft Action Plan also urged employers to ensure implementation of existing labor laws, including legal working time for all employed workers and contract labor and respect their freedom of association and col­lective bargaining, involve workers organizations actively in the formation of the com­panies strategy to cope with the restructuring of the global envi­ronment for trade, provide on the job training and re-training, to their workers, focusing on units harmed by the expiry of the ATC and provide them free transport facility, particularly for female workers to encour­age female workers participa­tion in the industry.

Concern voiced over job losses under WTO regime
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad
October 20, 2004
by Rasheed Khalid

Government officials, trade unions and development sector organisations have expressed concern over job losses in textile and clothing sector due to implementation of the WTO regime in the country.

The concern was voiced at a workshop on 'Textile and clothing sector workers in the post quota era" jointly organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) here on Monday. Representatives from trade unions, development sector organisations and ministries of labour and commerce attended the workshop. Karin Astrad Seigman of SDPI conducted the proceedings. The participants urged the policymakers, legislators and industrialists to place barriers in front of possible post quota threats.

The workshop discussed various threats and concerns due to the WTO regime implications and, drafted an action plan to minimise the negative impacts of the post-quota era. The participants observed that implementation of recommendations needs active participation of the society and all stakeholders in the economy.

Representatives, of trade, unions and NGOs agreed to formation of a task force on the Agreement on Trade and Clothing (ATC) and build networks' with similar organisations in and outside Pakistan. They urged the government to implement existing labour laws and punish violators to bring domestic legislation in conformity with the ILO conventions that Pakistan has already ratified.

They urged development of a coherent industrial policy with the help of all stakeholders, including the special concern of small and medium enterprises, provide labour colonies with fa­cilities to workers, both to fami­lies as well as to female and male bachelors get duty-free access to Pakistani garments to markets of the developed countries in bilat­eral trade agreements and organise a tripartite labour conference focusing on ATC issues as soon as possible.

The draft action plan urged employers to ensure implementation of existing labour laws, in­cluding legal working time for all employed workers and contract labour, and respect their freedom of association and collective bar­gaining, involve workers' organi­sations actively in the formula­tion of the companies' strategy to cope with the restructuring of the global environment for trade, provide on-job training and re-training to their workers, focus on units harmed by the expiry of the ATC and provide them free transport facility, par­ticularly for female workers to encourage their participation in the industry.

Azam Mohammad from the Ministry of Commerce said there would be definite unemployment after the post-quota era and these fears must be addressed immediately. He said the government is' empowered to raise the tariffs under the WTO regime if threat to any industry is observed.

Textile Commissioner Idrees Ahmed admitted that without in­volving representatives from labour unions and' other civil society organisations, any recommendation would be useless;' "There is immediate need to amend and rationalise labour laws to facilitate labourers and industry owners," he added.

Joint Secretary Labour Atta Mohammad Raja in his talk said that after implementing the WTO laws, labour engaged in the readymade garment sector would suffer the most. "Notwithstanding; a long established and confident textile industry in Pakistan, we cannot and should not rule out possibility of uncompetitive units being closed down which may re­sult in job losses for workers, in­cluding females," he observed.

Mobile Firms Concerned over WLL Operation
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad
October 14, 2004
by Rasheed Khalid

The mobile cellular operators have expressed concern over the low cost of Wifeless Local Loop (WLL) mobility, maintaining that it would adversely affect their consumer base in cellular services.

The apprehension was expressed at a meeting of stakeholders at the 51st meeting of SDPI's Study Group on information Technology and Telecommunications here on Wednesday. The participants included government officials, policy makers, regulators, academicians, cellular and Internet service providers, WLL licensees and other stakeholders. Dr. ljaz Shafi Gilani, chief of Gallup Survey of Pakistan, chaired the session.

The participants of the meeting were of the view that following the current trend, Pakistan recently adopted emerging technology of WLL services, which is technically similar to mobile telephones. PTA successfully completed the first phase of deregulation of this service by auctioning frequency spectrum in all the 14 telecom regions of the country for WLL services.

Code division multiple access (CDMA) which supports WLL is a cellular technology and as the licensees prepare to provide the subscribers loop (last mile) connectivity through WLL-CDMA system, they would offer a limited mobility to the subscribers which means, the subscribers will enjoy mobility in their respective geographic areas.

The technology will facilitate the increase of telephone density in Pakistan, they said. Participants were concerned that the operational stability of the WLL services would involve the identification of cell boundaries and the extent of mutual interference. To overcome the problem, a great deal of cooperation, especially between the adjacent WLL operators will be needed.

Overlapping zones will have to be identified and adjusted for interference free services. The operators will have to team up to resolve mutual problems with minimum role of the PTA, they said. The WLL operators will have to comply with the licensing conditions as laid down by the PTA. The conditions include adhering to the number plan; customers cannot avail mobility outside their specified service area; and no roaming would be possible unless authorised through an agreement and payment.

Brigadier (r) Mohammad Yasin of SDPI, Mukhtar Ahmed from Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP), Major (r) Kamil Khan of Interactive Communications and representatives from Ufone; Telenore, National Telecommunication Corporations, Ministry of Information Technology and other departments attended the meeting and expressed their point of views to promote and regulate telecommunication services in Pakistan. Engineer Usman of the Saif Group, Abdul Samad of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
(PTA) also spoke on the occasion.

Women demand effective laws against honour killing
The Nation Islamabad
October 09, 2004
by Lamia Zia

The human rights activists held a demonstration against the "honour killings" here on Friday.
The protest rally started from China Chowk and ended at Parliament House. Hundreds of protesters including women and children participated in the rally in a peaceful manner to protest honour killings.

The protesters were holding placards and raising slogans against the honour killings. They demanded of the government to introduce effective laws to bring an end to honour killing what they called an un-Islamic, inhuman and unlawful practice.

The placards were carrying slogans as, "Stop honour killings", "honour killing a part of feudal system," "honour killing an act of cowardice," "victims of honour killings are martyrs," etc.

The protesters were wearing black arm and head bands to show solidarity with the women killed in the name of honour across the country.

The women protestors held mock funerals of those women who were killed in the name of honour in various parts of the country. They were also holding placards carrying name and murder date of 357 women victims of honour killings.

The women rights activist Asma Jahangir was also present on this occasion. She demanded of the government to legislate against the honour killings to effectively protect the rights of Pakistani women. She urged the government to introduce appropriate amendments in the recently approved honour killings bill by the National Assembly Committee, within six months. She warned that another rally would be staged in Islamabad with a better participation of people from all walks of life, if the bill was not amended suitably.

She further said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf has failed to effectively protect the women rights during the past four years.

The central leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (Parliamentarian) Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, MNA, stressed the need for a societal change in the society's attitude towards women.

He said the laws on women rights should be implemented in letter and spirit, adding only the mere legislation is not solution to the problem, but its effective enforcement was need of the hour.

Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-e-Azam) MNA Mehnaz Rafi, Supreme Court Bar Association President Tariq Mehmood, Dr Mubashir Hassan, Farha Deeba and Afrasiab khattak were amongst the speakers of the rally.

The protestors dispersed peacefully at the conclusion of the rally. Heavy contingents of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police and women police were deployed on this occasion. The rally also observed one-minute silence in the memory of honour killing victims in front of National Assembly building.

Regulators' Responsibilities
Daily Dawn
October 9, 2004

The conduct of regulatory bodies in Pakistan understandably came in for some criticism during a seminar in Islamabad the other day. To play a more effective role in protecting the rights of consumers, it was said that they needed greater independence, increased powers, the government respecting their autonomy and these being held accountable to parliament.

Unfortunately, in practice, most regulatory bodies have failed to perform their due role of safeguarding the public interest. Take the case of the Pakistan Telecom Authority, which is supposed to ensure reliable and affordable service for telephone and Internet users.

While prices have come down, mainly because of increased competition, quality of service continues to be poor. In a bid to grab customers, companies have not bothered to increase the capacity of their networks to cope with the expanded customer base. As a result, connectivity (for both mobile phone and Internet users) has suffered.

As for PEMRA, it has the misconception that its role is not to ensure quality of service or safeguard the rights of cable TV subscribers but to become a guardian of public morality and shut down channels on a vague notion of vulgarity.

NEPRA and OGRA, the power and gas regulator, respectively, have often seemed powerless to do anything in the interest of consumers. The power and gas companies are supposed to obtain from either permission to raise tariffs.

In some cases, their requests have been turned down initially, but can be obtained with the intercession of the government. Even the Monopoly Control Authority has been toothless in persuading the cement manufacturers' cartel to lower prices (despite a cut in central excise duty in the 2004-05 budget).

The fact of the matter is that making the regulatory bodies accountable to parliament will not necessarily improve their working. They have sufficient powers as it is to safeguard the public interest and the key lies in exercising them judiciously and courageously, in the public interest, and to not be too beholden to the government.

Rally demands proper legislation against honour killing
HR activists threaten countrywide movement if demand not met
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad
October 09, 2004

Thousands of activists of dozens Human Rights organisations staged a rally against 'honour killing' on Friday before the parliament building.

They warned the government that the Human Right Organisation would launch a countrywide movement if the government failed to legislate an acceptable law against the honour killing within six months.

Prominent leaders of Human Rights across the country, including Aitzaz Ahsan (MNA), Asima Jahangir, Senator Iqbal Haider, Mehnaz Raft (MNA), Naeem Mirza, Barrister Mujeeb Pirzada, Dr Farzana Bari, Dr. Mubashar, Mukhtaran Bibi and Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood (President Supreme Court Bar Council} participated in the protesting rally.

Groups of human rights activists started from various points in Islamabad and gathered at China Chowk at about 10.30 am and marched towards the Parliament House.

A heavy contingent of police tried to stop the angry protestors at different spots on their way to the Parliament Building but they stormed towards their destination and finally reached there.

"Stop killing of women in name of honour," "Violence against women unacceptable," 'Hounor killing is a part of feudal system of Pakistan' read some of the banners. Some protestors held placards inscribed with names of victims of hounor killing and the name of places where they lived. They also carried mock coffin of the victims of honour killing.

The protesters lashed out at President Musharraf, saying on one hand he amended the constitution to consolidate his power with a stoke of pen and made repeated pledges with his western allies, especially Washington to protect Pakistani women from discrimination, unjust and un-Islamic legislation but nothing has been done so far, Asma Jahangir said.

President General Pervez Musharraf himself had declared 'honour killing' as a plain murder but hardly done anything significant to draft law on it since October 1999 when he assumed power.

She vowed to continue struggle for the repeal of all discriminatory laws against the women.

We have to fight against mullahs who want to keep women oppressed by advocating Chadar aur chardewari, a women right activist Farzana Bari said in her address.

PPPP's Iqbal Haider lashed out at speakers National and Sindh assemblies for brooking debate on honour killing and Karo Kari 'Not only the speakers who blocked the debate in the assemblies but those judges who have given judgments in favour of Karo Kari must be removed from the offices,' Haider demanded.

Various countrywide statistics said more than 4,000 people, mostly women have been murdered across Pakistan since 1998 and most of these cases had been settled in the name of 'raazinama or muafmama'.

Also, panchayat or jirga-sanctioned gang rapes, severing body organs and grievous physical injuries are common occurrence in such cases. I:

Authorities say more than 60 cases of honour killing have been reported this year to the police in the Punjab province.

Since 2001, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) said only 100 accused have been arrested in at least 318 cases in southern Punjab whereas only one person has been sentenced.

HRCP and the opposition parties have been blaming "soft punishment and poor prosecution" for the increasing number of honour killings. The criminal laws treat honour killing as murder, but a provision that allows family of the victim to compromise with the killer has rendered them ineffective.

"The existing laws need to be changed to bring an end to this social evil," Sherry Rehman, a woman PPPP's parliamentarian told The News. She had tabled a draft bill on honour killing last year, which she thinks would never get through.

"Instead, the government is preparing to introduce its own piece of legislature which proposes only cosmetic changes and will fail to achieve the desired results," she added.

The rally passed a resolution demanding of parliament to enact urgently a 'strong and effective' law minus ambiguity or loopholes to eliminate murders in the name of honour. However, they rejected any bill from the treasury bench on this.

They also demanded a law that lays down minimum mandatory punishments for honour killings.

The state must not only assume full responsibility for the registration, investigation and prosecution of such crimes but also assume a role of wali, the resolution.

Rally against honour killing
The Nation Islamabad
October 08, 2004

Citizen' Action Group Against Honour killings (CAGAHK) is holding a peaceful rally and march to highlight the issue of legislation on honour killing and violence against women in front of Parliament today.

The march will start from China Chowk and proceed towards Parliament Chowk, where prominent women's rights activists will speak on the subject, and memorandums of demands will be presented to parliamentarians.

Hisba Act a mere political move, says US professor
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad
October 06, 2004
by Rasheed Khalid

Dr Anita Weiss, a professor at Oregon University, US, has said that introducing Hisba Act is a mere political act of MMA government in NWFP than doing any real service to Islam.

Dr Weiss was discussing results of her research during a seminar on "Straddling CEDAW and the MMA: conflicting visions of women's rights in Pakistan" or­ganised by Sustainable Develop­ment Policy Institute here on Mon­day.

Anita Weiss said it was an un­realistic effort of the MMA aimed at satisfying its vote hank by claiming that the religious outfit had "done a lot for implementing Islamic laws."

She said by signing the Convention on Elimination of Discrim­ination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1996, Pakistan pledged to re­view its existing laws, social insti­tutions and cultural stereotypes and creating conducive conditions to eliminate discrimination against women.

She said the western parame­ters of socio-economic standardis­ation could not be a panacea for most of the ills of developing countries, particularly those re­lated to women issues. But, she maintained, it definitely required consensus of vision by the Muslim religious clergy to present it as a unified code of action in the days to come.

She examined the enactment of draft laws by the MMA's govern­ment in NWFP to ascertain the role of women in the polity in line with Islamic injunctions as they in­terpret it. She was critical of di­verging visions and viewpoints of different religious-political parties who are enthusiastic to implement the Hisba Act without taking into account the contextual realities. That is more a political act than any real service to Islam, she ob­served.

She said this sort of legislation would be an infringement of con­current list that favours the Fed­eral Government to legislate on these issues. She referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology, which did not support the Hisba Act. She also objected to the approach of MMA to defend Hisba Act by saying that the creation of an Islamic context will automatically resolve the prevailing social and legal problems. .

The participants shared the comments of the speaker. A questioner wanted to know what would be the role of Mohtasib under the Hisba Act when the Provincial Om­budsman is also working there. Similarly, it was questioned who would implement the acts of Hisba? The dubious role of exist­ing police force was also hotly de­bate.

Dr Saba Gul Khattak, Executive Director SDPI, thanked the guest speaker and the participants in the end.

Seminar calls for steps to end gender bias
Business Recorder Islamabad
October 05, 2004
by Recorder Reporter

Dr Anita Wais, Professor of International Studies at University of Oregon USA, said that Government of Pakistan under the commitment of CIDA W con­vention should review it's existing laws, social institutions and cultur­al stereotypes, and must create enabling conditions to eliminate discrimination against women.

She was addressing a seminar on "Straddling CIDA Wand the MMA: Conflicting Visions of Women Rights in Pakistan" organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

Anita Wais said that her study examines the enactment of draft laws by the MMA government in NWFP to ascertain the role of women in the polity in line with Islamic injunction.

Dr Anita has written many books and edited a famous book "Power and Society in Pakistan".

She criticised the divergent viewpoints of different religio­political parties vying to imple­ment the "Hisba Act" without considering the ground realities.

Anita said that the Council of Islamic Ideology has condemned the "Hisba Act" and added that faulty mechanism of the provin­cial government would be an infringement of concurrent list that favours federal government to legislate.

Anita criticised the current MMA rule in NWFP as segrega­tion has made women rights limit­ed. Girls are to study in separate schools from boys and only female doctors can provide treat­ment to female patients and even in severe emergency cases women are not provided medical aid to safe their life, she asserted.

The US professor said that there is no political pressure to pass leg­islation on karo-kari and to repeal Hadood Ordinance. Traditions and customs of rural and back­ward areas of NWFP and Balochistan must be changed for empowerment of women.

MMA using religion for political gains
Dawn Islamabad
October 05, 2004
by Amir Wasim

Former president Gen Ziaul Haq's Islamization programme was pur­sued in a complicated ideological framework and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) is following the same policy of 'manipulating' religion for political purposes, Prof Dr Anita Weiss of Oregon University of the US said here on Monday.

Dr Weiss was presenting her research study at a seminar on 'Straddling CEDAW and the MMA: Conflicting visions of women's rights in Pakistan', organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

She said the MMA people secured votes by promising that they would implement Islamic system. She said several federal laws on women were there but the MMA govern­ment in the NWFP was developing their own set of laws.

"A number of new and proposed laws and policies of the MMA directly contest those of the federal government's," she said.

She said by introducing Hisba Act, the MMA was more interested in gaining polit­ical credit than doing real service for Islam.

She also objected to the approach of the MMA in defending Hisba Act by saying that the creation of an Islamic context would automatically resolve the prevailing social and legal problems.

In fact, she said, the MMA made ail unre­alistic effort to satisfy their votebank by stat­ing that they had done much for the imple­mentation of Islamic laws.

She also highlighted 'gender segregation policy' of the MMA under which girls could only study in separate schools and only female physicians could treat female patients. The notion is that women's rights will be secured by such things, she said.

Similarly, Dr Weiss said, the MMA was less innovative in its stance on women's legal rights within the family.

The visiting US scholar said as per CEDAW Convention, to whom Pakistan became signa­tory in 1996, the government of Pakistan pledged to review its existing laws, social institutions and cultural stereotypes and cre­ate enabling conditions to eliminate discrim­ination against women.

She said Pakistan had done a 'fairly good job' in reforming laws so as to provide equal rights to women. She said laws were there but they needed implementation.

About Hudood Laws, she said no legal dis­tinction was made between consensual adul­tery and rape. She called for open debates in the country on such issues.

Executive Director of the SDPI Saba Gul Khattak conducted the seminar which was attended by representatives of NGOs, human rights organizations and media.

Hasba Act political tactic, says Dr Weiss
The Nation Islamabad
October 05, 2004
By Lamia Zia

Introducing of Hisba Act is a mere political tactic of the MMA for winning credit and increasing their vote bank instead of service to the people.

This was stated by Dr Anita 'Weiss, a professor at Oregon University, USA, while present­ing her research study at a semi­nar on "Straddling CEDA Wand the MMA: Conflicting Visions of Women's Rights in Pakistan" or­ganized by Sustainable Develop­ment Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday.

Dr Anita Weiss, highlighted the role of religious parties with special focus on the Muthida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) government in NWFP, under the commitment to conditions Eliminate discrimination against women (CEDAW), a convention Pakistan became signatory to in 1996.

According to the convention, the Government of Pakistan pledged to review its existing laws, social institutions and cultural stereotypes and create ena­bling conditions to eliminate discrimination against women.

She said that Western parame­ters of socio-economic standard­ization cannot be the panacea for most of the ills of developing countries particularly those relat­ed to women issues, but it defi­nitely requires consensus of vi­sion by the Muslim religious cler­gy to present it as a unified code of action in the days to come.

She examined the enactment of draft laws by the MMAs govern­ment of NWFP to ascertain the role of women in the polity in line with Islamic injunctions as they interpret it.

She was critical of diverging visions and viewpoints of differ­ent religio-political parties that are enthusiastic to implement the Hasba Act without taking the contextual realities in front of them. That is more a political credit winning than the real serv­ice doing for Islam, she said.

Juristically talking, she shared the faulty mechanism of the pro­vincial government, as this sort of legislation would be an in­fringement of concurrent list that favours the federal government to legislate on these issues.

She informed the participants about the verdict by the Council of Islamic Ideology that con­demned the Hasba Act.

She objected to the layman ap­proach of MMA by defending Hasba Act as saying that the cre­ation of an Islamic context will automatically resolve the pre­vailing social and legal problems. In fact, she stressed, it's an unre­alistic effort by the MMA politi­cians to satisfy their vote bank that they have done much for the implementation of Islamic laws.

The participants shared valua­ble comments to clarify the mat­ter under discussion by high­lighting the avenues like what will be the role of Mohtasib un­der Hasba Act when the Provincial Ombudsman is also working there.

Similarly, who will implement the acts of Hasba?

Worst form of bonded labour exists in mining sector: researcher
The News Rawalpindi/Islamabad
September 29, 2004
by Rasheed Khalid

Ahmad Saleem, a researcher at SDPI, has said that the worst form of bonded labour exists in mining sector throughout the country.

He was briefing the audience at a seminar on 'Bonded labour in mining sector of Pakistan' organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Monday.

Ahmad Saleem said that inhuman child and bonded labour violations take place in the mining sector of Pakistan. He said that mine owners which included legislators are violating labour laws in the area, which needs to be addressed immediately. He said that workers usually belong to the districts of Shangla and Swat.

He said that a middleman usually belonging to the area is responsible for hiring the workers. Being a local, whenever he comes to the village, he carries a large amount of money and distributes it to potential workers. The total amount ranges from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 25,000. About the working environment, he said that absence of safety networks and guidelines was making the lives difficult for mineworkers.

Ahmad Saleem said that the situation was much worse in unregistered mines as compared to the registered ones. In case of any disaster, mine owners usually offer compensation of Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 and ask the worker to go back home and take rest or send someone else in his place. He said that in case of death, owners are bound to pay Rs. 300,000 to the mineworker but in most reported cases, owners try to hide the incident and bury the worker without informing his relatives. He informed the participants that late Omar Asghar Khan recommended steps for the amelioration of mineworkers out those were not implemented due to his untimely death.

Ramzan Khokhar, a registered mineworker and union leader of Khewra salt mines, said that the Khewra mines had 1,850 workers, who were doing all work themselves. The British introduced the chamber system of mining which is for better than the prevailing one. In fact, they were well-wishers of the mineworkers than the present government, which is levying all kinds of taxes, abolishing gratuities and number of allowances, which were being paid to the mine worker. He said that there are only 650 registered mineworkers at Khewra mines. He said that the government has decreased the rate of salt by Rs. l00 per ton and privatisation and leasing of the mines is the other menace that created more difficulties for the workers. The private owners are not only wasting the salt but also causing salinity to the soil as they do not dispose rough salt properly and throw it away into Jhelum River, which then irrigates land in downstream.

Saifullah from International Labour Organisation, appreciating the study, said that another study found that due to high illiteracy and the belief of the people that mining is a well-paid sector, most of the mineworkers are from Shangla and Swat districts only. He also informed that there is no school and formal education for work safety and occupational health, which could be imparted to the workers in this sector.

Workers living in inhuman conditions Jhelum River polluted with mine salts
By Our Correspondent
Frontier Post
September 28, 2004

ISLAMABAD: “Inhuman child and bonded labor violations exist in the mining sector of Pakistan. Mine owners including legislators are violating labor laws in the area, which needs to be addressed immediately.” These was revealed by findings of a research study and opined by the speakers at a seminar organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) entitled “Bonded labor in mining sector of Pakistan”, held here on Monday.

Experts indicated that the private mine owners are not only wasting the salt rather also causing salinity to the soil as they do not dispose rough salt properly and throw it away in to Jhelum River, which then irrigates the lands in the district.

Ahmad Saleem of SDPI presented his research findings and told the gathering that worst form of Bonded Labor is prevailing in the Mining sector through out the country and the workers are usually belongs to the districts of Shangla and Swat.

He said that a middleman, who usually belongs to the area, is responsible for hiring the workers. Being a local, whenever he came to the village, he comes with huge money and distributes to the potential workers. The total amount ranges from 15000-25000. Informing about the working environment in the mines, he said that non-existence of any safety networks and guidelines, making the lives difficult for the mineworkers. Situation is much worst in the unregistered mines as compared to the registered mines. In case of any disaster, mine owners usually offer compensation of rupees 5000 to 10,000 and ask the worker to go back home and take rest or send someone else in his place.

He revealed that in case of any death, owners are bound to pay rupees 300,000 to the mineworker but in most of the reported cases, owners try to hide the incident and bury the worker without informing his relatives. He informed the participants that the late Omar Asghar Khan recommended some step but those were not implemented due to his untimely death. “A few legislators who are also mine owners and so are the perpetrators of this inhumanity in the mining sector.” He replied on a question.

Ramzan Khokhar, a registered mineworker and union leader of Khewra salt mines said that the Khewra salt mines had 1850 workers, who were doing all the work themselves. The British introduced the Chamber system of mining which is far better than the prevailing one, In fact, they were well wisher of the mine workers than the present government which is levying all kind of taxes, abolishing gratuities and number of allowances, were being paid to the mine worker. He told that there are only 650 registered mineworkers at Khewra mines. He said government has decreased the rate of salt by Rs. 100/ton and privatization and leasing of the mines is the other menace, which has created more difficulties for the workers.

Ch. Saifullah from International Labor Organization (ILO) appreciated the efforts of Ahmad Saleem and his team who carried out an interesting study on Bonded Labor in the Mining sector. He said that another study have found that due to high illiteracy and the belief of the people that mining is a well paid sector, most of the mineworkers are from Shangla and Swat districts only. He also informed that there is no school and formal education for work safety and occupational health, which could be imparted to the workers in this sector.

Responding to a question on concrete interventions, he said that a project has been developed to address problems of mine work seekers from Chakwal and Shangla to identify employment alternatives within theses areas. ILO also working intensively with district governments to utilize the funds resourcefully and opening literacy and safety centers close to mines, for children. “A Bonded labour law is also in place and such laws need to be implemented accordingly.” he added.

Worst form of bonded labour exists in mining sector
By Our Staff Reporter
The Nation, Islamabad
September 27, 2004

Inhuman child and bonded labour exists in the mining sector of Pakistan. Mine owners including legislators are violating labour laws in the area, which needs to be addressed immediately.

This was crux of the seminar on “Bonded labour in mining sector of Pakistan” organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) here on Monday.

Ahmad Saleem of SDPI presented his research findings and told the gathering that worst form of bonded labour is prevailing in the mining sector throughout the country and the workers usually belong to the districts of Shangla and Swat.

He said that a middleman, who usually belongs to the area, is responsible for hiring the workers. Being a local, whenever he come to the village, he comes with huge money and distributes it to potential workers. The total amount ranges from Rs 15000 25000.

Informing about the working environment in the mines, he said that non-existence of any safety networks and guidelines, making the lives difficult for the mine workers. Situation is much worst in the unregistered mines as compare to the registered mines.

In case of any disaster, mine owners usually offer compensation of Rs 5000 to Rs 10,000 and ask the worker to go back home and take rest or send someone else in his place.
He reveled that in case of any death, owners are bound to pay Rs 300,000 to the mine worker but in most of the reported cases, owners try to hide the incident and burry the worker without informing his relatives.

He informed the participants that late Omar Asghar Khan recommended some step but those were not implemented due to his untimely death.

“A few legislators who are also mine owners and so are the perpetrators of this inhumanity in the mining sector,” he replied to a question.

Ramzan Khokhar, a registered mine worker and labour union leader of Khewra Salt Mines, said that the Khewra Salt Mines have 1850 workers, who were doing all the work themselves.

The British introduced the chamber system of mining which is for better than the prevailing one, In fact, they were well wisher of the mine workers than the present government which is levying all kind of taxes, abolishing gratuities and number of allowances being paid to the mine worker,” he said and added that there are only 650 registered mine workers at Khewra mines.

He said, government has decreased the rate of salt by Rs 100/ton and privatization and leasing of the mines is another menace, which has created more difficulties for the workers.

The private owners are not only wasting the salt but also causing salinity to the soil as they do not dispose rough salt properly and throw it away in to Jhelum River, which then irrigates the lands in the district.

Ch. Saifullah from International Labor Organization (ILO), appreciated the efforts of Ahmad Saleem and his team who carried out an interesting study on bonded labour in the mining sector.

He said that another study have found that due to high illiteracy and the belief of the people that mining is a well paid sector, most of the mine workers are from Shangla and Swat districts only.

He also informed that there is no school and formal education for workers safety and occupational health, which could be imparted to the workers in this sector.

Responding to a question on concrete interventions, he said that a project has been developed to address problems of mine work seekers from Chakwal and Shangla to identify employment alternatives within theses areas.

ILO is also working intensively with district governments to utilise the funds resourcefully and opening literacy and safety centres close to mines, for children.

“A Bonded labour law is also in place and such laws need to be implemented accordingly.” he added.

Victimization of mine workers continues, say speakers
By Jamal Shahid
Dawn, Islamabad
Sept 27, 2004

Dangerous working environment and occupational health hazards pose threat to the lives of mine workers who are still facing victimization.

This was the gist of deliberations at a seminar on 'Bonded labour in mining sector of Pakistan', organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute here on Monday.

Speakers at the seminar included Khewra Salt Mines Trade Union activist Ramzan Khokhar, ILO National Programme Manager Mohammad Saifullah and Research Assistant/Director Urdu Publications Ahmad Salim.

Mr Khokhar said health and safety concerns of the mine workers was top priority during the British rule. He said the electric trolleys used in the past were safe and environment friendly. The tractor trolleys used in mines today produce dangerous smoke and the dust rising from the tires makes breathing difficult, he added.

"In five to seven years, a miner contracts TB or other diseases." Mr Khokhar said there were 685 registered miners working in Khewra Salt Mines on just Rs1,000 a month. This amount is not even fixed and withholding tax is deducted from it, he added.

Furthermore, he said, a miner was supposed to come out with a specified amount of salt or else he was not paid the promised sum. To top it all, miners have to purchase safety gear and other supplies themselves, he added.

"So you can imagine the actual amount of money a single miner takes home. All facilities and allowances such as gratuity funds or old age benefits have also been withdrawn," the activist said.

In 1983, the then Punjab finance minister Nawaz Sharif had permitted private owners to mine for salt in Khewra wherever possible. He said the mine owners used to take away usable salt and dump the rest in front of the mines.

Rain water carried the discarded salt to agricultural fields which destroyed the crops. Today fields are barren and even the ground water is hard, the activist added. He said there were some 25 private salt mines in Khewra, while one each was owned by Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC) and Punjab Mineral Development Corporation.

Talking about his ILO-supported research on the state of miners, Ahmad Salim said inhuman child and bonded labo