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PRESS FOR PEACE Giving Voice to the Voiceless

OUR TEAM

Tanvir Latif Patron-in-Chief Press for Peace team have been honoured by Mrs Tanvir Latif, renowned educationist and social worker, by her acceptance of the appointment as the Patron-in-Chief of Press for Peace (PFP). She is a seasoned educationist and has contributed greatly to incorporate the notion of Kashmirit (Kashmiriness) in curriculum for elementary education, introducing local geography, art, culture and political history. She has been honoured for her great services at different levels. Currently, she is associated with a US sponsored project Revitalizing, Innovating, Strengthening Education (RISE) which aims the modernization of educational structure in Kashmir. Earlier, she has

also contributed significantly for the promotion of women literacy. PFP, through its constitution, has given right to none other but Mrs Tanvir Latif to be honorary life member of the organisation. No stranger to charity, she began her career as an educationist but soon turned to be an education social worker. We are humbled by her continuous patronage of the activities of Press for Peace (PFP). We respect her commitment to social work. Due to her loving and affectionate character for PFP family, she is recognized as ‘The Mother of the PFP’. We salute her. Contact details: Central Plate Opposite Girls High School, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir Cell: 0092 301-8505872

POLICY AND RESEARCH WING

Zafar Iqbal Executive Director Zafar Iqbal, founder of Press for Peace (PFP), is a peace and human rights activist. He did his MA

(Media & Globalization) from Nottingham Trent University, UK. He earned his post Gradation in Mass Communication from the University of Punjab, Pakistan. He started his career as a journalist. He has been a passionate and ardent supporter of change in his social and political milieu. Highlighting the miseries of marginalized and voiceless elements of society, promoting peace and supporting various issues of human concern have been the major areas of Zafar’s contributions while working for a number of national and local dailies and media organisations. As a journalist, he has specifically been interested in peace and security with special perspective on South Asia, press freedom, globalization and environmental issues. He has been in Switzerland, Norway and United Kingdom to disseminate philosophy and approach of his organisation. Zafar has also attended a number of international courses, seminars, workshops and conferences, where presenting himself as an activist and social mobilizer he highlighted violations of human rights and many other issues of human concern. He has been threatened many a times by extremist outfits for ‘collaborating’ international human rights groups and media persons. His role as a social worker after the catastrophic earthquake in 2005 was widely appreciated and acknowledged by different organisations, groups and agencies at local and international level. Since the inception of Press for Peace in 1999, he has devoted himself to the work of his organisation. Contact Details: J&K Press for Peace (PFP) Bank Road, Muzaffarabad Jammu and Kashmir Ph: 0092 5822 445457 Email: [email protected] , [email protected] UK: Fretwell Street Nottingham England Cell: 0044 7837931805

Eva Maria Teja Mayer Director Europe Eva Maria Teja Mayer is a devoted peace advocate, down-to-earth believer in human values and human rights activist. She was born in 1962 in Vienna, Austria. She is an active member of Press for Peace (PFP) since 2006. She is a prolific writer, researcher and free-lance journalist. She has extensively studied ancient history and antiquity, archaeology, oriental and western cultures and different religions of the world. She has been in constant contact with eastern societies and ever been determined to go through the intricacies of Sufism and spiritualism. She has a lot of literary, social and educational work in her credit. She is qualified in alternative healing techniques, energy work and psychology ( Reiki etc.). Eva has worked on various assignments in Austria and Germany. As a special initiative, she undertook an in-depth study of the Indian culture and society as well as Indian Healing Methods. She has been in Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia and Romania to participate in various activities. She was awarded Mira Lobe Scholarship in 2005 for Children and youth literature. She was also awarded the Activist of the Year Award by Press for Peace (PFP) in 2008. As a social worker and peace activist, she has bestowed her love to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the people of quake-hit areas in Pakistan Administrated Kashmir and demonstrated her unflinching adoration for the noble cause of working for the welfare of ailing humanity.

She visited the quake-hit areas of Kashmir in 2006 to find intimate overview of the situation and upon return wrote a book "A New Morning for Munir: A tale from Kashmir", which is a story about youth responsibility, friendship, brotherhood and faith in Allah. Contact details: Lapigasse 15/4-5,A-1020 Viana,Austria(Europe) Ph. ++43(0)1 33 27 490 Cell: ++43(0)664 523 1171 Email: [email protected] [email protected] www.evamariateja.com

Ejaz Ur-Rehman Director UK Ejaz Ur-Rehman is an ardent and enthusiastic conservationist. He is a vivacious member of Press for Peace (PFP) since 2006. He did his MSc in Habitat Creation and Management from Staffordshire University, UK. He has also MSc (Botany) in his credit, which he earned from University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan. He has been affiliated with the United Nations Development Programme in Pakistan. E. Rehman has extensive experience of working in the field of social mobilization and rural development. He has also been associated with the Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) in Pakistan. With PRSP, he successfully completed the task of

disseminating philosophy, concept and skills of participatory development approach of his organization at grassroots levels. During his stay with the PRSP, he facilitated the rural communities of remote areas in mobilization of indigenous resources (human, financial, physical and natural) for development interventions. He has an extensive knowledge of different perspectives of nature conservation and land management. He is particularly well-versed in ecological surveys, identification skills and habitat mapping (GIS and DGPS technologies). He has been involved in a research work carried out at the mountains of Picos De Eurpa in Spain. E. Rehman is also an astute researcher and is ambitious to nature conservation and preservation of biological resources. His articles on ethno-botany, environmental issues, forest habitat situation and impact of armed conflict on environment have been published in different international journals and periodicals. Contact details: 15 Robert Street Tunstall Stoke-On-Trent UK Ph: ++44(0)1 782 839848 Cell: ++44(0)7958244717 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Luv Puri Director Luv Puri is presently pursuing a media course in New York University on a Fulbright fellowship. He worked for The Hindu, an Indian newspaper with a

particular focus on issues relating to India and Pakistan particularly the six- decades- old J&K conflict. He's interested in conflict reporting and Diaspora studies and has done a Thompson Foundation conflict reporting course in Cardiff, U.K. Luv has won few international honors including the 2006 European Commission Award for Human Rights and Democracy. He is author of a book about Militancy in Kashmir. His book on Pakistan-administered Kashmir based on his field work and research work in the region and Pakistan is to be published soon by a publishing house in the UK. Contact details: J&K Karan Nagar,Jammu Tawi (J&K) INDIA Ph:++91-191-2542687 Cell:++91-9419185562 Email:[email protected] [email protected] US APT 1 E 1116 Avenue H Brooklyn ++1-3472071176

NY 11230 Ph :

Aftab Alam Director Environment Aftab Alam is a fervent Environmentalist with extensive experience of inter-disciplinary research especially sustainable development in developing countries like Pakistan. He is conservationist, writer, analyst and public speaker. He has excellent communications ability, both with technical and non-technical audiences. He has outgoing personality, relating well to people in all walks of life both socially and professionally. Aftab did his MSc degree in Sustainable Development from University of Surrey Guilford (UK).His research was on Environmental Education and Awareness: A tool towards sustainability in the State of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan. He has also Graduate Diploma in Energy Planning and Sustainable Development from Norway and MSc (Chemistry) from University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan in his credit. He participated in different trainings, seminars and workshops organised by IUCN Pakistan, AIOUIslamabad Pakistan, Applied Socio-economic Research Lahore(ASR), National Environment Action Plan Support Program and Ministry of Environment Government of Pakistan(NEAPSP/UNDP).He also coordinated activities with International Organization Islamic Relief UK in their sustainable Livelihood program in remote areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He has seven years working experience as an Assistant Director Environment in Environment Protection Agency AJK and has gigantic hallucination in Environmental awareness and education. During this task he prepared short and long term environmental awareness and education plans and he lucratively enhanced the role and capacity of the stakeholders to achieve the targets of environmental protection and sustainability. Currently he is working as a Compliance Officer at ERRA Pakistan.

He worked as Environmental Coordinator of Press for Peace (PFP) during earthquake rehabilitation activities and Press for Peace (PFP) really acknowledged his achievements and commitment .Aftab is now a PFP Director Environment. Contact Details: House D-93 Upper Chatter, Muzaffarabad Azad Jammu & Kashmir Pakistan, 13100 Cell:

0092-3459486677

[email protected].

T H Shah Director Research T.H Shah has post graduated from University of Peshawar in Political Science. He sought his Diploma and Training in International Human Rights Law (IHRL) from University of Nottingham, UK, where Human Rights Field Operations (HRFOs), and Rights of Child (RoC) been major field of his specialization. He has conducted field operations survey on human rights in Bosnia Herzegovina during his academic training of human rights in UK, and gave his presentation on

Islam and Human Rights in University of Nottingham. He also participated in a consultation and seminar on protection of cultural and historical heritage during war in Lutherpact Research Centre at the University of Cambridge, UK. Professionally, he has rendered his services in various fields which include education, management and human rights. He worked as lecturer political science and English, visiting lecturer on human rights in various seminars and consultations, and been researcher on human rights in Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights Islamabad Pakistan. He has excellently collaborated with Asia Pacific Forum (APF) on establishment of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Pakistan, and submitted comprehensive reports to Ministry of Law, Justice and Human Rights, and Committee on Law Justice and Human Rights, National Assembly of Pakistan on the part of Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights Islamabad. He has the credit to be a part of ILO campaign for Elimination of Child Labour in collaboration with Parliamentarians Commission for Human Rights, Islamabad. In addition, in a wake of historically worst earthquake on 8th October 2005 in Pakistan, he been equal part of relief activities with parliamentarians and facilitated organization of tripartite workshops on psychological rehabilitation of earthquake victims (PROEV) under National Task Force (NTF) established by then Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Shaukat Aziz. Mr. T.H Shah has composed various research papers on diversified human rights issues which include gender based violence (GBV) in Pakistan, child labour, bonded labour, domestic violence against women, (DVAW), criterion for establishment of national human rights institutions (NHRIs), criminal justice system and state response, juvenile justice in Pakistan, police reforms, prison reforms, Hadood Ordinance, and Honour Killings Laws etc. Contact details: 215-A Ilkeston Road

NG7 3FX Nottingham, UK Ph: 0044 7846695104 Email: [email protected]

Miss Nighat Younas Researcher Miss Nighat Younas is renowned as a zealous, enthusiastic social worker and have been affiliated with the Press For Peace (PFP) as a ardent researcher. Academically, she received her PhD from the University of Karachi, with special emphasis upon the role of depressive people in the development and stability of the political strata of the society, particularly in reference to growing social ailment of drug and HIV aids in Pakistani society. She has displayed passionate interest in drug addiction and its impacts on youth community, and has brilliantly completed her research paper based on drug addiction and its impacts on society as co-author with Dr. Fakhar-ul- Hoda Saddiquie Assistant professor, Department of Social Work, the University of Karachi. As regards her services, having completed her Masters in Political Science from Karachi University, she served in AJ&K Education Department even in the remote area of the State, to pursue her insatiable desire and long-delayed unfulfilled dream- to create consciousness among womenfolk of rural and deprived communities about their rights and responsibilities in order to give them an equal and honorable position and a decent living environment for their existence. Earlier, Ms. Nighat services in IUF International Union of Food , Beverage, and Tobacco deserves

utmost praise. She proved herself up to the mark in respect of his qualitative services as well as responsibly maintaining the administrative affairs of the organization as Women Officer. She has diligently dealt with the matters like maintaining IUF Urdu websites, media coverage and news letter. She has been working in the capacity of a Community Mobilizer in psychosocial support program where she provided community based follow up and psychosocial support to traumatized people. Her praiseworthy social work and devotion has been widely honored by different social and charitable fora. She has wide experience of training and human resource development in the fields of trauma, community mobilization and crisis and disaster management and has delivered her lectures in various training programs organized by prestigious international and regional organizations such as Turkish Red Crescent Society and others. After completion of her PhD, she wishes to continue her work for the well being of drug addicts in her native area and wants to initiate her research project related to gender empowerment. Contact details: Room # 56 Aiwan-E-Liaquat Girls Hostel University of Karachi Pakistan Cell: 0092 0321 2587892. E-mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Katelina Leone Researcher Katelina Leone has Masters Degrees in both Management in Arts and Culture and Media and Globalization. With experience within research, management and marketing, events organization and community work.She has a great passion for human rights, arts and culture in global perspective. Currently working as a volunteer with charity organizations TRACS and the Sneinton Festival at Nottingham where supporting actively the work of community based ventures. She is an excellent event organizer and has arranged number of successful cultural events for Cultural Centre Trakia (Bulgaria) and other institutes. Contact details: Nottingham, England Email: [email protected]

Amjad Iqbal Researcher

Amjad Iqnbal is a Biotechnologist. He is also accomplished Chemist with extensive experience of Chemistry. Amjad with an MSc in Chemistry from University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (Pakistan) entered an other MSc program in Biotechnology at Bedfordshire University UK. He is now working on a hefty scale MSc research project at Bedfordshire University UK and his research topic is, Isolation of cold tolerance genes from plants above timber line in Pakistan. This cram has developed her skills in a wide range of biotechnology/cell biology field and subsequently gained extensive experience. An amalgamation of experience gained through his academic background and current research, he also has developed considerable experience in Chemistry, Cell Biology,Chemical analysis and Genetic variations in living organisms. Press for Peace really appreciates that Amjad is now affiliated with our team as a stanched researcher. Contact Details: Luton Bedfordshire UK E-mail: Mob: ++44 7718987910

OPERATIONAL WING

Raja Wasim Khan Director

Raja Wasim Khan is a journalist, human rights activist and social worker. He is enrolled in University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad as a part time student in MA in Political Science. He is active member of Press for Peace (PFP) since 1999. He has extensive experience in dealing with human development issues at grass-root level as he has been associated with a number of nongovernmental and development organisations. He is particularly interested in post-disaster environment journalism, rural development and women development issues. He has been vigorously involved in PFP’s activities since its inception. He has skilfully completed many significant assignments during his stay in Press for Peace (PFP). He is the most reliable and resourceful activist within the organisation. He is gentle by nature and a shrewd campaigner. He has compiled many insightful reports and publications about women issues and journalistic trends in his home country. He has been associated with a number of newspapers, media organisations and news agencies. He is a valuable asset in the organisation. Contact Details: Bank Road, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir Ph: 0092 -5822-445457 Fax: 0092 5822 -45437 Cell: 0092 3015710575 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

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Aurengzeb Saifullah Director Youth Aurenzeb Saif Ullah is working as Director Youth and Career Development in PFP. He is a soft ware Engineer graduated from University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. During his educational career he has been very active for students’ rights and well being of youth community under the banner of different youth bodies and organizations. He has a successful event organizer and has supervised numerous campaigns and events during his association with different welfare networks. Currently he is working for a Pakistani news channel -Dunya TV in its regional Bureau in Muzaffrabad. Earlier, he has worked for Pakistani National News Papers- the daily Khabrain and the daily Pakistan. In his journalistic work he has focused news stories and features about Kashmir politics and other social and human rights issues in the region. He also supervises IT section of his current job. Now he is also doing his Master in Mass communication. He was among dedicated and devoted volunteers of the PFP who selflessly served the victims of earthquake of October 8, 2005 in all affected areas in the fields of rescue, relief, education and permanent rehabilitation. He is amongst the highly trusted members of the PFP and has represented his organization in various major national and regional conferences, including a training workshop in Nepal held by Panos, UK. Contact details: Press For Peace (PFP) Bank Road, Muzaffarabad, Azad Kashmir

Cell: 0092-3015626044/3455903492 Res: 0092-5881045805 mob: 0312 5284623 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

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Yousuf Kashmiri Field Director Yousaf Kashmiri belongs to mind-enslaving picturesque valley of Bagh, a District of Kashmir. He was born and bought up in Karachi and sought all his higher education from Karachi University. Spending his prime of life with liberal and progressive political activists of the country and having passed long span of his time in political arena, he returned to his native town with aims to work for the betterment and reformation of his native land in terms of political activism and to work for the social betterment of the bereaved ones on society.Mr. Yousaf Kashmiri is a committed and devoted social and political activist. He has launched numerous historical campaigns and events related to Kashmiri identity and to portray the basic rights of people of the state. He has borne the brunt as a result of his enlightened political approach suffered state brutalities and has been captivated by the state machinery for his long and noble struggle for the rights of marginalized communities. Before joining his current position in the PFP he worked as district coordinator where he proved himself as an exemplary enthusiastic activist not only for his local team, but his efforts and contributions have been highly admired at all levels. Contact details:

Bagh, Azad Kashmir Cell: 0092- 03338300433-03015624100 Res: 0092- 05872042823. E mail: [email protected] [email protected]

Madiha Khursid Programme officer Madiha Khurshid was born and brought up in Bagh district of Azad Kashmir. She has an honour to have a Masters degree in her credit. Since her early age she has been very active in extra curricular activities which resultantly developed her interest in youth and women issues during the course of her university education. Thanks to the extra ordinary role of young generation in social transformation, she was assigned the responsibility of Programme Officer in the PFP which relates her role as team leader in the dissemination of message of peace, tolerance and mutual respect among youth community. Like other workers of PFP, she has not lagged behind in organizing a number of important events and launching campaigns to create awareness among youth and women’s about their rights, thus helping in promoting the noble cause of human rights. She is a well versed and versatile writer and her stories appeared in different local publications. Kashmir dispute, crimes related to women, youth issues, women rights, environment and tourism are some of the prominent areas of her writings.

She is an ardent supporter of youth and women’s participation in social and political milieu. Being elected member of Student Council, she has been a frontline advocate of student’s rights as well. Contact details: Near Forest office District Bagh Azad Kashmir Cell: 0092-331-5133899 Email: [email protected]

Amir udin Mughal Chairman Board of Trustees He is a assiduous and dynamic photo journalist and has been associated with some prestigious national and international media wires and outlets, including Reuters. During his ten years career in image industry, he has extensively covered human sufferings related issues to Indo-Pak conflict exertion along the Line of Control (LoC). Currently, he is working with a private TV Channel. His work has been highly acknowledged in environs and globally. He has been always ardent to explore new locations and appearances in the fields of tourism, indigenous people and environment. Contact details: Press for Peace (PFP) Bank Road, Muzaffarabad, Jammu and Kashmir Ph: 0092 -5822-445457 Fax: 0092 5822 -45437 Cell+92-300-9885892 +92-355-8100688 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

Jalal ud Din Field Director Contact Details: Press For Peace (PFP) Kundal Shahi Neelum, Azad Kashmir Cell: 0092 3009885892, 092 3003727508 E-mail: [email protected]

Ishtiaq Ahmed Program Officer Kotli Azad Kashmir Ishtiaq is MBA in Finance from University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan.

Contacts Detail: Village dehri Sugyam, Post office Doongi Tehsil & Distt Kotli (Azad Kashmir) Mobile No. 0346 2958456 E-mail: [email protected]

Hamid Ali Contact details: Cell : +968 95254886 Muscat, Oman | Email: [email protected]