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Naya KPK | News & Updates on the development in KPK.

Woman rights; office of Ombudsperson under the Prevention from Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010 established

The Provincial Commission on the Status of Women has hailed the decision of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to set up the office of Ombudsperson under the Prevention from Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2010.
In a press release issued here on Monday, Chairperson Provincial Commission on Status of Women, Neelum Toru said credit for this development goes to Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani , Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Social Welfare.
Dr. Mehr Taj Roghani took keen interest and made efforts for establishment of this much needed office which will enable the victims of sexual harassment at workplace to take their appeals to the Ombudsperson if their grievances are not redressed by the internal Inquiry Committee of their respective workplaces, Neelum added.
Moreover the office of Ombudsperson shall also work towards enhancing awareness of the law among general public and ensure the implementation of code of conduct.
The Provincial Commission on the Status of Women termed the move quite positive and expected that the institution will help promote greater enforcement of the law.

http://thefrontierpost.com/article/92423/Decision-to-set-up-office-of-Ombudsperson-hailed/
 
Health staff in two districts to get performance-based bonuses



The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department will give performance-based bonuses to health workers in Kohistan and Lower Dir districts to improve mother and child health, control malnourishment and apply brakes on avoidable mother and child diseases.

The contract of project in this regard was signed by the health department with donors’ representatives here on Thursday. Under the project, the health department employees will be given benefits for showing good performance.

The delayed three-year project is now being implemented for 14 months in Kohistan and Lower Dir, two of the six districts to be covered under the programme to achieve the targets set forth in the health-related millennium development goals of the United Nations.

The health department has also planned a two-day workshop for workers of the respective districts to inform them of the programme. To get the project’s objectives and then award monetary incentives to health workers, a monitoring system has been put in place through partner organisations, the Integrated Health Services Management in Kohistan and MERLIN in Lower Dir.

In 2012, the Multi Donors Trust Fund (MDTF) had agreed to spend Rs16 billion in six districts, but the project couldn’t be implemented due to political interference. The grant has now been reduced to Rs1.5 billion due to wastage of time.

The government wants to create competition among the employees to be able to get cash, trophies and certificates, and improve the health delivery system.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plans to significantly bring down malnourishment among children from the current 36 per cent, which has been resulting in low immunity and causing deaths due to ailments. The project entitled “Mother Child and Nutrition Services” will cost Rs193 million in Lower Dir and Rs130 million in Kohistan.

The programme will strengthen about 100 health facilities, including basic health units, dispensaries, rural health centres, tehsil headquarters hospital, mother and child centres where repair and refurbishment will be carried out.

For instance, houses will be renovated to ensure that doctors stay there.

There will be a three-layered strategy to gauge performance of the health staff working in the two districts. The district health officers (DHOs) in respective districts and a firm have been tasked the job of monitoring and evaluation besides a project management unit to be based in Peshawar.

Reports from these entities regarding the output of the designated health facilities will be sent to the director general health every three months to award the best performers. About four to six rural health centres in each district would be used as respective hub for the basic health units etc to meet their demands like medicines, etc.

Strengthening of DHO offices and upgradation of infrastructure with uninterrupted supply of medicines, equipment, disinfectants etc and paying recurring cost to the health facilities, are the basic components of the programme.

The health department has devised the process for employment of staff. The programme will also start in Buner, Battagram, Torghar and Dera Ismail Khan districts in due course of time, but its duration will be of one year. The MDTF, which is executing the programme through the World Bank, has also agreed to extend the project subject to its effective implementation.


Health staff in two districts to get performance-based bonuses - Newspaper - DAWN.COM
 
Here to stay: Democracy in safe hands, says PTI chief


Ruling out the possibility of mid-term elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday said there are no threats to democracy.

“There are some elements that are trying to push their own agenda under the pretext of democracy,” said Khan during his address at the inauguration ceremony of Tameer-e-School programme at Duranpur Government Girls Primary School (GGPS).

However, he said rigging allegations over the May 11 general elections last year have not been addressed despite a lapse of nearly 11 months.

The PTI chief said around 122 state-run schools have been identified in the first phase of the programme which will receive funding from the general public in and outside the country. The programme will entail renovation of schools to provide them with adequate facilities.

Khan said a total of 14,000 schools from 28,000 lacked basic facilities including rooms, boundary walls and toilets. Through this programme, funds will be sent directly to the schools identified in the programme’s website.

Khan said once people start trusting the system like they trust Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital and National University of Modern Languages, more funds will be generated and soon all the 14,000 schools will benefit from the programme.

Divulging details, Khan said a parent-teacher council would decide where the money would be utilised and a picture depicting the development work would be sent to the respective donor.

About Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s foreign tours with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Khan said this was the reason why the erstwhile East Pakistan used to call it the “Government of Punjab” instead of the Government of Pakistan.

He also expressed deep concerns over why electricity tariff was increased for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) despite it being one of the major hydro-power generating provinces.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said he was not only saddened “but also ashamed” over the current situation of state-run educational institutions in the province.

“The day when students from private schools start enrolling in state-run schools will be the day I will accept that change has set in,” Khattak said, adding the government will not tolerate teachers’ absence from duty.

The Tameer-e-School programme has been launched in Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad, Nowshera and DI Khan districts. Besides PTI Central General Secretary Jehangir Tareen, United Bank Limited Senior Executive Director Syed Javed also donated Rs2.5 million for GGPS Duranpur.

Here to stay: Democracy in safe hands, says PTI chief – The Express Tribune
 
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Dispute Resolution Council of Police in Naya Khyber Pukhtoonkhuwa
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Vision

“And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two”. Surah Al Hujrat Verse 09.

Mission Statement

To facilitate the common man in getting his petty issues resolved amicably through an alternate process of restorative justice involving members of the civil society

Context

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, characterized by ‘Pakhtunwali’ code, has preserved its traditions and culture for centuries. These cultural values, today, find themselves woven in its social fabric. The tradition of resolving disputes amicably through the intervention of ‘elders’ has been age old and quite a revered one. However, the infestation of militancy and terrorism in this area , not only disrupted the law and order situation, but also destroyed a strong tradition of dispute resolution through reconciliation.

With a mission to revive this revered tradition of dispute resolution through restorative justice, KPK Police has taken this initiative of Dispute Resolution Council.

Need Analysis

The conventional court system of Pakistan, today, finds itself embroiled in a myriad of structural and administrative issues. The civil courts too are excessively over-burdened and under-resourced. Therefore, whenever petty issues involving non-cognizable offences get forwarded to civil courts from the Police, the involved parties find themselves following a long and expensive process of justice. The delay in dispensation of justice, if at all dispensed, causes a feeling of frustration, humiliation and despondency.

Moreover, since such issues (mostly of civil nature) do not get timely resolved, they usually end up in a criminal activity with the aggrieved party taking the law in its own hands. A petty wage issue turns into a criminal act when the aggrieved person attacks the owner. Similarly, a simple divorce or custody issue often ends up resulting in a spate of murders.

Therefore, to bypass the rigmarole of conventional justice system and to formalize the concept of alternate dispute resolution, the role of DRC becomes imperative.



Functions of the Council

1. Amicable resolution of disputes
All applications/complaints, forwarded by the Police department, will be resolved amicably on best-effort basis by the Council. All its decisions will be within the ambit of the law and constitution.

2. Fact finding
In case one of the parties, despite being found at fault, does not opt for amicable resolution, the DRC will send its fact-finding report to the concerned SHO for taking further necessary legal action.

3. To work as an observer/jury in cases of contested investigation

They will participate as independent observers during contested investigations by the Police. The investigating officer, upon conclusion of his investigation, shall share and discuss his findings with the DRC. In case of a dissenting opinion by the jury, it will send its report to District Police Chief for taking necessary legal action in the light of rules and regulations.

Eligibility of DRC Members

  1. The member should have an apolitical background.
  2. The member should be mature, experienced and must possess a balanced personality
  3. The member should be well-respected and well-reputed in his community

Selection of DRC Members

  1. The District Police Chief in consultation with the civil society will request prominent and well-reputed personalities of the community to join the Council.
  2. Any person who is interested in becoming a member, may offer his services voluntarily. The District Police Chief, after due verification of his credentials and eligibility, may enlist him in the panel.

Structure of Dispute Resolution Council

  1. The Council shall consist of 21 members representing a cross -section of the community, including professionals, retired judges, retired civil and military officers, educationists, religious scholars, journalists and businessmen.
  2. Each Police Station will have a DRC with a minimum of 21 members.
  3. The Council membership shall be in fluid state, meaning there will be no permanent members and new members can join and leave upon their will.
  4. If the Council feels that any of the members is not participating fully, it may request the District Police Chief through SDPO to replace them.
  5. The overall working of DRC will be organized and planned by the Secretary elected/selected from among the members as per the procedure laid down hereafter
  6. Each Council will be divided into different panels consisting three members each.
  7. These DRCs will operate in Police stations where a dedicated Jury Room shall be established for their functioning
  8. A Police officer of the concerned police station will be appointed as a support staff to maintain record of working and decisions of the Council
  9. This Council will function in close liaison with the concerned SDPO.


Roles & Responsibilities of the Secretary

All willing members shall work as a Secretary to the Council on three-month rotation basis. Following will be the duties of the Secretary:

  1. Coordination of various activities of the DRC.
  2. Formation of different panels in consultation with members
  3. Receiving applications marked to the DRC from the SDPO and refer it to the panel members.
  4. Preparing timetable and schedule for hearing cases by different panels of DRC.
  5. Maintaining a proper register containing complete record of all decisions of DRC.
  6. Changing panel constitution if any of the party in a case has any reservation against member(s) of the panel.
  7. Arranging a monthly meeting of the DRC for progress update
  8. Preparing summary report of all activities of DRC for the District Police Chief by the 7th of every month.
Working Modalities of the Council

  1. The Council will take up only those applications which are referred to it through Police
  2. A Council member will not take the case on his own, however, may recommend the applicant to the Police. In all such cases, the member will not be a part of the panel.
  3. An application referred to a panel will be heard by the same panel except under special circumstances.
  4. If any party has any reservation on decision of the DRC it may apply to the SP for review.
  5. A 5-member review council, other than the original decision members, will review the finding.
  6. A Police Liaison Officer, which shall be of ASI and above rank, will be appointed by the concerned SDPO for helping the coordinator in record keeping and other issues of the Council


Code of Ethics for the Council Members

  1. No Council member would use his position in this Council for any political purpose or his own personal interests.
  2. The Council members would not mention their position as a Council member on their personal visiting cards.
  3. If any of the panel members is acquainted with any of the complainants or the accused, he will disclose his conflict of interest and will abstain from sitting on that panel
  4. If either the complainant or the accused raises any objection against a panel member, he or she will voluntarily withdraw from that panel.
  5. If any of the Council members becomes an office bearer of a political party, he will withdraw his membership from the Council voluntarily.


Responsibilities of the Police Coordinator

  1. Summoning both the parties and ensuring their attendance before the DRC.
  2. Recording statements of the parties and documenting the proceedings.
  3. Providing guidance/advice to the panel members on legal issues.

Limitations on the Council Members

  1. The members would not agree to take up any case that is sub-judice unless both the parties give a written consent.
  2. The members shall not involve themselves in complicated civil cases
  3. The members would refrain from recommendations that are against the Constitution of Pakistan and the law, for example flogging of one party when found guilty, under age marriages, vani etc.

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KP to set up Pakistan’s first high security prison


Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be setting up Pakistan’s first high security prison having three-layered security besides establishing high security zones in six sensitive jails of the northwestern province housing more than 1,000 terrorists and high profile prisoners like Dr Shakil Afridi.

The authorities have also announced to form a special prison force which would guard the province’s sensitive jails while a plan has also been initiated to establish a separate prison for Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) to keep tribal prisoners as well as a women jail for female folk.

Advisor to the Chief Minister on Jails Malik Qasim Khan, speaking to the media, said that the prison force of 850 personnel, equipped with latest gadgets and equipment, would be responsible for jail security.

To a query about shifting alleged CIA operator Dr Shakil Afridi, he said that KP has approached the federal government as Dr Afridi was convicted in a federal crime, adding that so far Islamabad has not responded to the request.

Inspector General of KP Prisons Kifayatullah Khan, speaking on the occasion, said they are waiting for the federal government’s directives on Dr Shakil Afridi’s issue.

He said that the KP jails were holding more than 100 militants who were charged under anti terrorist act and the government was planning to set up high security zones in the jails to keep them separate from other prisoners.

The IG prisons said that the province would have the country’s first high security prison with central lock system and three layers of security. Special cells would also be set up to keep the high profile prisoners charged with terrorism, he added.

Kifayatullah Khan said that high security zones are being set up at six sensitive jails in Mardan, Timergara, Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat and Karak where the hardcore militants would be kept separately from the others.

To another query, Khan said that a separate prison has been proposed for Fata where prisoners charged for any offense in the tribal areas would be kept.

He said the prisons force with initial strength of 850 would have their own APCs, jammers and sophisticated weapons and would be self reliant to meet any emergency situation.

The IG prisons also announced to set up a separate jail for women prisoners, where they would be provided with vocational and other skill development training.



KP to set up Pakistan’s first high security prison - Pakistan - DAWN.COM
 

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