Annual Report

2015 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Annual Report 2015-6 This material may not be copied, reproduced or transmitted in whole or in part without attribution to the Jinnah Institute (JI). Unless stated otherwise, all material is property of the Institute. Copyright © Jinnah Institute 2017 2 3 Contents INTRODUCTION 6 OPEN DEMOCRACY INITIATIVE 8 Reports 10 Policy Events 11 University Town Halls 12 Women’s Mentorship Accelerator 15 STRATEGIC SECURITY INITIATIVE 16 Reports 19 Dialogues 20 Policy Events 22 Twitter Café 25 POLICY ROUNDTABLES 26 PUBLICATIONS 34 Policy Briefs 36 Features and Opinion Editorials 38 Op-Eds 40 BOARDS AND JI TEAM 42 Board of Trustees 44 Board of Advisors 47 JI Team 54 4 5 Introduction Jinnah Institute seeks to promote independent policy research and public advocacy in Pakistan that advance the causes of: Democratic institution building and strengthening state capacity for delivery on policy goals; National and human security discourse with an emphasis on regional peace; Entitlement to fundamental rights; Accountability of public bodies and government; Building public equity in a plural and inclusive national identity. To meet these objectives, Jinnah Institute Within this framework, the two overarching engages with policy-makers, government, media, program areas under which the Institute civil society, state institutions and academia. The undertakes a variety of projects and interventions Institute actively seeks to articulate independent are: national security strategies for Pakistan that incorporate the country’s strategic imperatives a. Open Democracy Initiative while providing room for constructive engagement b. Strategic Security Initiative with the international community as well as policy and opinion makers. Under these operational streams, Jinnah Institute By serving as a bridge between academia and seeks to accomplish a series of different but policy-making, and focusing on capacity building complementary objectives that work towards for the state and other policy creating institutions, achieving the Institute’s overarching goal of the Institute creates an enabling context and establishing a more democratic, transparent public space for ideas and resources to come and inclusive environment for policymaking together through mediums such as policy briefs, and a more tolerant, open and peaceful society reports, lectures, seminars, roundtables and for the harmonious coexistence of diverse caucuses. cultural, religious and ethnic groups in Pakistan. 6 7 Open Democracy Initiative ODI 8 9 Overview Main Project Highlights and discrimination is often justified by radical by national and international press and attended by sectarian clerics, many of whom have been allied the diplomatic corps, civil society and academia. Pakistan’s interrupted encounters with Jinnah Institute has been actively engaged with, or appeased by, the state at various points, democracy and diminished public input in throughout 2015 and 2016. We are constantly or have conversely been at loggerheads with it governance have arrested the growth of monitoring new developments and changes at other times. Concerted political opposition to Policy Events institutions and rendered public services either in the country. We have an energetic team of both, such clerics and the idea of state patronage too fragile or too disempowered to respond to researchers, analysts and staff focused on to them has grown as Pakistan’s democracy has Conference on Democratic and Electoral a growing population of citizens alienated from pressing issues of the day. taken hold since 2008. Yet, progress in building an Challenges post-2015 the state. The twin menaces of terrorism and anti-extremist political and social consensus has extremism have further exacerbated the crisis in During 2015 – 2016, the Open Democracy been a troubled, fraught, and imperfect process, The Jinnah Institute hosted a conference titled the country. Initiative undertook research and advocacy on marked by setbacks and challenges. And, of “Pakistan: Democratic and Economic Challenges minority rights, democratic institution building, course, even where sections of the political elite, post-2015” in Islamabad on the 30th of July. The The goal of the Open Democracy Initiative is to inclusive economic reform, women’s rights, civil society, media, and state administration have seminar was divided into two sessions; with one bridge the gap between citizens and state and electoral reform and progressive legislation. The been theoretically resolute in opposing agents and tackling electoral reform and democratic buy-in and to formulate and articulate policy responses initiative also increased its advocacy outreach by enablers of such bigotry, discrimination, abuse, the other addressing inclusive economic growth based on inclusive research. By pursuing these expanding policy dialogues to leading private and and self-censorship, dithering policy and law and regional trade. The seminar was attended by goals, Jinnah Institute is creating awareness, public universities in Pakistan through a concerted enforcement responses stemming from fear of politicians, policy analysts, civil society members expanding the knowledge base and facilitating strategy of engaging the millennial generation. extremist retaliation have ensured the injustice and industry experts to discuss and deliberate the implementation of informed Listed below is a detailed account of our activities against minority communities going unreported on some of the country’s most pressing and recommendations for researchers and policy- and research outputs. and unchallenged. intractable issues. The proceedings began with makers. This program focuses on strengthening Sherry Rehman, the President of the Jinnah democratic practices such as transparency in This report covered the state of religious Institute, chairing the first session titled “Electoral public contracts, the right to religious freedom, freedoms in Pakistan from 2012 to 2015. It Reform and Sustaining Pakistan’s Democratic Buy- social entitlements, right to information, and the included data collection and analysis of extremist In,” which also featured the head of the Centre provision of social justice. In addition, this initiative violence in Pakistan during these years and built on for Civic Education Zafarullah Khan and eminent is an awareness and capacity building effort for field research focused on the Shia, Christian, Hindu, columnist and analyst Zahid Hussain. better governance in Pakistan’s public institutions. and Ahmadi community. The report was further It advocates the reinstatement of state writ in augmented by a documentary highlighting some of The second session, “Regional Trade: Pakistan’s areas where parallel and/or colonial structures the challenges, violence and discrimination faced Comparative Advantage?” was moderated by restrict access to fundamental rights, such as by the communities. A report launch was held Jinnah Institute Director Hassan Akbar with universal suffrage and equal opportunities for all. in Islamabad on January 18, 2016, and included panellists Dr. Ashfaque Hassan Khan, Dean of the Sherry Rehman, Tahira Abdullah, Ramesh Kumar NUST Business School and General (retd.) Talat and Ali Dayan. The event was covered extensively Masood. Areas of Focus Human rights and social justice, with a focus on women and minorities; Civic engagement in strengthening democratic and social structures and constitutional entitlements; Investing in the media through capacity building exercises and consultations to enhance its role as a key shaper of popular narratives and a Reports constructive partner in democratic governance; State of Religious Freedom in Pakistan Integrating youth cohorts in mainstream identity Recent years have witnessed an escalation in the discourse by exploring multiple realities and persecution of minority communities in Pakistan. strengthening plural values; The exclusion of non-Muslims from mainstream national life is only half the story. Increasingly, Encouraging specific mediums of secular extremists have also targeted Muslims from the expression, including art and culture in order to minority sects of Islam. During the period 2012- build bridges between art and citizenship. 2015, at least 351 incidents of violence were carried out against minorities. Such violence 10 11 University Townhalls Social Entrepreneurship: In 2016, Jinnah Institute expanded its outreach youth participation. However, disengagement Breaking the Glass Ceiling by undertaking a series of policy discussions at of Pakistan’s youth in national politics is a some of Pakistan’s leading universities. These collective failure of all stakeholders. Youth need series of University Town Halls were structured to engage themselves in politics, not just by to expose university graduates to some of voting but also through consistent interaction Pakistan’s pressing policy challenges and with local government officials. Lack of delivery inculcate an open and frank exchange of ideas is an institutional failure, not a problem with and views between leading voices in Pakistan and democracy. In theory, democracy is a system that the millennial generation. The events held under empowers the youth. this initiative are as follows: The policy dialogue was followed by an interactive Democracy 3.0: Youth and the Future of question and answer session. SZABIST students our Politics questioned the electoral procedures currently in place, concerned that most youth are told who On April 26, 2016, Jinnah Institute

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