Wajahat Masood, (Chairperson CSJ) did his graduation from Government College Lahore and M.A. English from Punjab University. Later, he earned an LLM in International Human Rights Law from Leeds University, UK. He has been active in three fields, education, human rights and journalism.
In 1994, he founded Democratic Commission for Human Development, the pioneer organization for human rights education in the country. Through this organization, Wajahat Masood worked in the villages of Pakistan and trained thousands of young activists in democracy, peace and tolerance. He strived to establish the correlation between democracy, human rights and human development in the villages of Pakistan. In 1996, he founded Nawa-i-Insaan, a monthly Urdu language magazine. During 1990-2005, he served as a consultant for different international human rights organizations. As a journalist, Wajahat Masood was associated with national dailies such as The News, Nation, The Post, Urdu Dawn and Aaj Kal. He was a regular columnist for BBC Urdu Service from 2005-2008. He worked as the editor of monthly Nawa-e-insaan, Daily Mashriq and weekly Hum Shehri and e-daily Dunya Pakistan. He has been a political analyst for PTV and Radio Pakistan besides commentating for different private television channels. As a teacher, Wajahat Masood taught at all three levels of education, school, college and university.
He is currently the editor of on-line Urdu language newspaper HumSub. He is writing a bi-weekly column for Daily Jang. He has authored several books on politics, history, culture and literature.
In 2015, he received the Presidential Pride of Performance Award in the field of Journalism. He also received the National Bibliophile Award in 2013.
Amjad Saleem Mihnas (Treasurer CSJ) though had been associated with students’ organization since 1973 he became more active in the student politics during Gen. Zia-ul-Haq’s dictatorship. He was among the founders of Democratic Student Federation (DSF), Lahore which had active members across four provinces of Pakistan. He was appointed the General Secretary for Punjab province (1981-84). He was also member of District Committee at Communist Party of Pakistan, Lahore (1983-90).
He took part in the formation of Railway Mehnat Kash Union in Lahore (1987-88), later became Convener at Punjab Naujawan Mahaz and Member of Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights, Lahore (1991-99).
He was founding member and later Program Officer at Democratic Commission for Human Development, Lahore (1997-2005) his work focused implementation of safety regulations for working children in especially carpet industry and prevention of child labour.
He developed a Voter Education program in Punjab for Action Aid Pakistan (2002). He was Coordinator Mother Language Coordination Committee of Punjab consisting of various organizations from 18 districts of Punjab (2006-07).
He developed a Voter Education program in Punjab for Action Aid Pakistan (2002). He was Coordinator Mother Language Coordination Committee of Punjab consisting of various organizations from 18 districts of Punjab (2006-07).
Jennifer Jag Jivan works in the areas of Christian Theology, peace-building, interfaith harmony, human rights, minority rights and strengthening democracy. She gives lectures, holds workshops and writes in the areas mentioned.
She also conducts evaluations and helps organizations in strategic plans. Her education is from Pakistan, the UK and USA. She works with Churches, Church organizations, I/NGOs, universities, religious leaders, members of civil society and youth groups.
Presently she is serving as Director of the Christian Study Centre, Rawalpindi Pakistan.
Saroop Ijaz is the Pakistan researcher in the Asia division of the Human Rights Watch and a member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Prior to joining the Human Rights Watch in 2014 Saroop has been a consultant for the European Union and a lead consultant on a British Council project on criminal justice reform.
In addition to having his practice in law since 2008, Saroop has been a regular opinion writer and columnist at Pakistan’s two most influential English Language dailies – the Express Tribune and Dawn. In 2013, Saroop’s legal expertise in human rights cases led to his appointment as the Chairperson of the Lahore High Court Committee on International Human Rights.
Saroop is a graduate of the Lahore University of Management Sciences and holds a diploma from the Hague Academy of International Law.”
Dr. Rubina Feroze Bhatti specializes in peace-building and promoting rights of religious minorities and the rights of women particularly victims of gender-based violence and religious intolerance. Rubina earned her Master’s Degree in chemistry from Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) in Pakistan and her Master’s in development studies from Ireland where she was awarded with “Student of the Year” for her outstanding educational career. She is a PhD in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego.
Rubina is a founding member, and the current general secretary, of Taangh Wasaib Organization (TWO), a rights-based development group working for interfaith harmony and gender equality through its programmes addressing religious intolerance, sectarianism and discriminatory laws against women and minorities.
Rubina has earned remarkable awards and recognitions, among which she was among 1,000 Women nominated for the Noble Peace Prizes, Woman of Courage Award, along with former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, World Vision International Peacemaking Award, N-Peace Award, and selected as a Woman PeaceMaker at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice where her life story was documented. Rubina was honored a Member of the Month at International Exchange Alumni website in June 2015.
Amjad Nazeer is heading the Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC), Islamabad. Mr. Nazeer is researcher and Human Rights Activist in Pakistan with accomplished skills in Development Planning and Management, Baseline Surveys, Assessments and Impact Studies. Style="text-align: justify;">He holds degrees in ‘Governance and Development Management (University of Birmingham, UK)’ and ‘Human Rights Policy and Practice (University of Tromso, Norway, of Gothenburg, Sweden of Roehampton, London).’
He is a well known expert in Development Research and a Human/Minority Rights advocate and active member of some human rights and development networks in Pakistan.
Mr. Nazeer has been formally associated with several national and international NGOs and Civil Society Institutes such as Oxfam Novib, Action Aid-Pakistan, South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, GRM-International and GHK – International and other civil rights groups and movements. Drawing on his in-depth experience and understanding, he remains engaged in conducting social research, delivering trainings and lectures on the platforms of various NGOs, CSOs and with Universities and Development Institutes.
