The DSS Department held a second roundtable in collaboration with Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP) titled Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR) – Human Rights Perspective in Islamabad on Thursday, November 3rd. The roundtable discussion, which took place at Islamabad’s Margala Hotel, featured introductions to FATA’s various issues by experts such as veteran Human Rights Activist and Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Mr. IA Rehman, Ms. Feryal Gauhar Head PIHRO Habib Orakzai, chairman Department of International Relations, University of Peshawar Dr Ijaz Khan, and Representative WPF Ms. Nazoora Ali besides Mr. Naveed Shinwari CEO, CAMP and Chair, DSS Department, QAU Dr. Rifaat Hussain.
Ms. Feryal Gauhar presented an introduction to the history of the FCR and elucidated the need for further reforms in, what can only be described as, the draconian British law and policy towards FATA. Mr. Habib Orakzai spoke at length about not just human rights violations in FATA but also explained the informal mechanisms of deception that have been instituted at the state-level which perpetuate such violations. Naveed Ahmed Shinwari, CEO of Community Appraisal and Motivation Programme (CAMP), shared his thoughts regarding the FCR as well as the current scope and failure of the state policy and writ in FATA. Ms. Nazoora Ali gave a presentation on the many facets and sub-policies that comprise the FCR and explained, in detail, how each of these policies is anti-human and anti-respect as regards the residents of FATA. Dr Ijaz Khan criticized the state structure and explained how the ruling class, military and civilian bureaucracy were reluctant to empower the people of FATA.
Mr. I A Rehman dispelled the impression that the people of FATA were not subject to the provisions and rights drafted in Pakistan’s constitution. He said that the problem was the lack of mechanisms to reinforce those rights in the area. All participants agreed that the recently introduced Action In Aid of Civil Power Regulation 2011had taken away more from the people of FATA than it had given them in terms of the acknowledgement of the human rights. They emphasized the need for genuine and representative reforms in FATA up to and including the eventual end to the brutal FCR.