Listen to her interveiw here-
https://soundcloud.com/desmukh/parveen-rehman-interview-2011

 

PRESS RELEASE

calls for urgent action by the state to protect citizens

KARACHI,
March 14, 2013: Leading civil society organizations of Pakistan have expressed
shock and profound grief at the brutal target killing of Director of the Organi
Pilot Project (OPP) Ms. Parveen Rehman by terrorists near her office on
Wednesday evening.

In
a joint statement here on Thursday, the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education
and Research, the South Asia Partnership – Pakistan, Strengthening
Participatory Organisation, Sungi Development Foundation, the Pakistan
Fisherfolk Forum, and Pakistan Peace Coalition, condemned the target killing of
the social activist who dedicated her entire life to the cause of the empowerment
of the marginalized communities in the slum areas of Pakistan, particularly the
Orangi Town which is one of the largest slums of Asia. After the demise of the OPP’s
founder head Dr. Akhtar Hameed Khan in 1999, Ms. Rehman steered the mission of
the organization, expanding one of the worldā€™s largest and pioneer low cost
sanitation and basic services programmes that went on to change the lives of
the downtrodden rural population.

Paying
tribute to Ms. Rehman, the statement observed that she was a relentless social
activist who was highly respected for her innovative work for the slum
communities which went beyond merely facilitating low cost services. She sought
to empower the unattended-by-the state community through education, skills-development
and provision for microfinance facilities. It was this work of hers that was targeted
by the powerful mafias as a threat to their existence. While police have yet to
identify her murderers, her brutal killing in the middle of a crowded road in
Karachi is an indication of the backing of powerful forces behind her murder. It
has been reported in the press that she had been receiving threats from local mafias
for a long time. Her murder is a symbol of stateā€™s failure to protect its citizens.

The
civil society organisations strongly demanded the government to order a
judicial inquiry into the killing of Ms. Rehman to ascertain the killers and
their actual masters. The state must stand up to protect sane voices and
peaceful forces of the country that remain target of the brutality of the
non-state actors and the apathy of the state. Parveen Rehmanā€™s killing is a
serious move to demoralize the forces of peace and development in the country. The
organizations expressed the resolve that they will not bow under pressure, but
the state must take its responsibility to protect its citizens.

The
civil society also expressed solidarity with the OPP team headed by late Parveen
Rehman. They resolved to work together to carry forward her mission to empower
the marginalized stressing that no terrorists and mafias should have the power
to stop peace and development in the society.

Ends

Released by:

Shujauddin Qureshi

Co-Manager Programmes (Advocacy and Networking)

Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)

Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi-75340

Ph: +(92-21) 36351145-7

Fax: +(92-21) 36350345

Cell: +(92)300-3929788

URL: www.piler.org.pk

Shujauddin Qureshi

Co-Manager Programmes (Advocacy and Networking)

Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER)

Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi-75340

Ph: +(92-21) 36351145-7

Fax: +(92-21) 36350345

Cell: +(92)300-3929788

URL: www.piler.org.pk