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Check FAQAbout Somaiyah
Somaiyah Hafeez is a freelance journalistand writer based in Pakistan focused on human rights, climate and politics. Her work has been published in The Diplomat, The Guardian, New Lines Magazine, and The New Humanitarian. As the media fellow for the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development, Somaiyah has focussed on the subject of enforced disappearances in Balochistan. She was awarded the Humanitarian Reporting Award 2023 by CEJ-ICRC for her reporting on food insecurity in Pakistan.
Portfolio
Pakistan’s untold war: No justice for Balochistan’s disappeared
The article discusses the issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, Pakistan. Nasrullah Baloch, chairman of Voice of Baloch Missing Persons, criticizes the Commission for discarding a significant number of cases without proper investigation. Activists have noted that many resolved cases end with the discovery of mutilated bodies, and there are allegations of fake encounters by Pakistan’s Counter Terrorism Department. The article also highlights the trend of 'short-term' disappearances and the challenges faced by activists in documenting these cases due to remote locations and fear of being targeted. Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister, is quoted from a BBC interview downplaying the number of disappearances, a stance that aligns with his reported closeness to the military.
Section 144 & A Gathering Of Women: Personal Reflections From A Baloch Journalist
A Baloch journalist shares personal experiences of covering enforced disappearances and protests in Balochistan, including being arrested while reporting on a protest march led by Mahrang Baloch in Islamabad. The journalist reflects on the challenges faced by journalists in Balochistan, where reporting on sensitive issues like enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings is dangerous. The article highlights the lack of press freedom, the risks journalists face, and the societal barriers for female journalists. It also mentions the historic gathering in Quetta organized by the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, which received no mainstream media coverage despite the imposition of section 144.
After successive floods, Pakistan is forced to consider resilient housing
The article discusses the impact of the 2022 floods in Pakistan and the innovative housing solutions developed by Yasmeen Lari and the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan (HFP) to create disaster-resilient homes. Lari, Pakistan's first woman architect, designed bamboo houses that are flood-proof and cost-effective, using locally sourced materials and community labor. The HFP's model has been adopted by other organizations like Madat Balochistan, which has built hundreds of these homes post-floods. The article also critiques the government's approach to rebuilding, which relies on more expensive and less environmentally friendly materials like concrete and steel. It highlights the need for community-led, sustainable housing solutions that are adaptable to the climate challenges faced by the region.
‘House of love’: the calm, creative space changing young lives in Karachi
Mehr Ghar, a community center known as the House of Love, has become a transformative space for the residents of Lyari, a slum in Karachi plagued by gang violence. Founded by siblings Muhammad Faheem and Parveen Naz, the center offers a media room, library, cafe, study areas, and safe spaces for women. It has provided alternatives to gang life and helped individuals like Nauroz Ghani, Sadia Rasheed, and Mehr un Nisa find safety, identity, and opportunities. The center's impact reflects a significant shift from the trauma of gang wars to community development and empowerment.
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