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Swati women want army to stay
ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Womenfolk in the Swat valley are still haunted by the Taliban rule and they want the Pakistan Army to stay unless full peace and prosperity returned to the area.
“Once the Army is withdrawn, things will start to deteriorate†– is the feeling of a common Swati woman, concludes Dr Anita Weiss, a researcher from the United States while delivering a talk on: “Crisis and reconciliation in Swat through the eyes of women†at the National Commission on the Status of Women, in Islamabad on Thursday.
Dr Weiss, head of the Department of International Studies at the University of Oregon, toured the Swat valley and held in-depth discussions with the Swati women, and concluded that they [Swati women] also want the government to take bold steps for the revival of rural economy of the valley so that they can earn livelihood and raise their families.
The women of Swat would prefer job opportunities to earn money to buy food rather than donated food, she said.
Dr Weiss stated that despite traumatic experience, the morale of women especially young girls was quite high, and they want to carry out studies to become useful citizens of the country. Swati girls when asked about their careers, desire to fly aircraft, she said.
Among the girls, there is a renewed commitment for education and spirit to fight back the Talibanization. They also want the civil society to form women cooperatives and groups to assist them in setting up business and accessing the markets, she said.
Dr Weiss’s talk was well-attended by people from the civil society. The Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, Ms Anis Haroon welcomed Dr Weiss, who is also a member of the Research Advisory Board of the Commission. Currently, she was working on a research project on the issue of interpreting Islam, modernity and women’s rights in Pakistan.
Swati women want army to stay
ISLAMABAD, Feb 4: Womenfolk in the Swat valley are still haunted by the Taliban rule and they want the Pakistan Army to stay unless full peace and prosperity returned to the area.
“Once the Army is withdrawn, things will start to deteriorate†– is the feeling of a common Swati woman, concludes Dr Anita Weiss, a researcher from the United States while delivering a talk on: “Crisis and reconciliation in Swat through the eyes of women†at the National Commission on the Status of Women, in Islamabad on Thursday.
Dr Weiss, head of the Department of International Studies at the University of Oregon, toured the Swat valley and held in-depth discussions with the Swati women, and concluded that they [Swati women] also want the government to take bold steps for the revival of rural economy of the valley so that they can earn livelihood and raise their families.
The women of Swat would prefer job opportunities to earn money to buy food rather than donated food, she said.
Dr Weiss stated that despite traumatic experience, the morale of women especially young girls was quite high, and they want to carry out studies to become useful citizens of the country. Swati girls when asked about their careers, desire to fly aircraft, she said.
Among the girls, there is a renewed commitment for education and spirit to fight back the Talibanization. They also want the civil society to form women cooperatives and groups to assist them in setting up business and accessing the markets, she said.
Dr Weiss’s talk was well-attended by people from the civil society. The Chairperson of the Commission on the Status of Women, Ms Anis Haroon welcomed Dr Weiss, who is also a member of the Research Advisory Board of the Commission. Currently, she was working on a research project on the issue of interpreting Islam, modernity and women’s rights in Pakistan.
Army announces compensation for families of air strike victims
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
By Said Nazir Afridi
BARA: Following the apology tendered by the Chief of the Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, to Kukikhel tribe on the killing of civilians in air strikes in Sra Vella area of Tirah Valley, Khyber Agency, on April 10, the Pakistan Army announced compensation of Rs 20 million for the victims.
“We never expected that Pakistan Army will admit its mistake and apologise for the killing of innocent people in Sra Vella,†said a tribesman from Jamrud, Nafees Khan, while talking to The News.
He said the majority of Kukikhel tribe was happy with Kayani, who admitted that innocent people had been killed in Sra Vella. “The apology and compensation announced by the Army chief for Sra Vella victims healed the wounds of Kukikhel tribe,†Malik Wazir said and added that Kukikhels, like the past, would continue their support to the Pakistan Army in future and sacrifice for the defense of the country.
While talking to this scribe, the Political Agent (PA) of Khyber Agency, Shafeerullah Khan, said the military would pay Rs 200,000 each to 61 dead and Rs 100,000 each to 21 injured of Sra Vella air strikes within two days. He said that Pakistan Army would bear the cost of treatment of the Sra Vella injured admitted in Peshawar hospitals. “The federal government would pay a separate compensation package to the victims of Sra Vella in near future,†the official said.
On behalf of Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Brig Basit and Brig Arshad visited the ICRC Hospital in Peshawar where they inquired about the health of seven injured of Sra Vella and paid them Rs 100,000 each. They also paid Rs 200,000 to heirs of two dead each.
According to the ISPR, the Pakistan Army has granted Rs 20 million compensation for the victims of Sra Vella. The six-member scrutiny committee, made by Kukikhel grand Jirga, would visit the FC Camp at Shakas today to receive the announced compensation by the Army. Two Pakistani jet fighters attacked the house of late Hameed Khan in Sra Vella area on April 10 in which 61 people were killed.
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