Linked with No honour in killing, with Global Sisterhood-Network GSN, with The real choice before Pakistan., and with Human Development Foundation HDF.
Beena Sarwar is a writer and filmmaker active in the women’s rights, human rights and peace movements in Pakistan.
Beena Sarwar was IPS correspondent in Lahore from 1992 to 1999 when she left to join Goldsmiths College, University of London, to do a master’s course in TV journalism. She was a producer with Geo Television News, Pakistan’s first 24-hour news channel, from May 2002-Nov 2004. After a stint as editor for OpEd and Features with the prestigious ‘The News’ (Jang Group of Newspapers), Karachi, she returned to IPS this year. Sarwar is a founding editor of ‘The News on Sunday’, a weekly newsmagazine launched in 1994 which comes out of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad. She has been a Research Fellow of Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA, Sept 2006-June 2007; Nieman Fellow, Sept 2005-June 2006; British Chevening Fellow, Goldsmiths College, University of London, UK, Sept 2000-Sept 2001. She holds a M.A. (Distinction) on Television Documentary, Goldsmiths College, University of London, Sept 2001; a B.A. double major Studio Art and English Literature, Brown University, Providence, USA, May 1986, and ‘A’ Levels, (Art, Literature, History): Karachi Grammar School, Karachi, 1981. (IPS.org).
Watch her video: Beena Sarwar: Musharaff’s actions are … , 5.41 min, on VodPod (from the Real News Network), Dec 8, 2007.
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Beena Sarwar – Pakistan
Hindus touched by report on untouchables, September 06, 2008.
… Our mutual friend Beena Sarwar (in the photo above, with Saneeya) has made a 14-minute documentary called Celebrating Saneeya. It was screened at the 5th Karachi International Film Festival in December 2005 … (full text, 20 April 2007).
Beena Sarwar is an artist, journalist and documentary filmmaker focusing on human rights, gender, media, and peace. She was Features Editor of ‘The Frontier Post’, Lahore, founding editor of weekly ‘The News on Sunday’, Pakistan and is on the Editorial Board of monthly Himal Southasian, Kathmandu (www.himalmag.com). Since doing her Masters in Television Documentary she has made several documentaries and worked as a producer with Geo Television news. She was Op-ed Editor of The News before going on to Harvard University as a Nieman Fellow and Fellow at Harvard University’s Carr Center for Human Rights Policy. She is currently based in Karachi working on a freelance basis and runs a postings list at yahoo groups …
She writes: … In resigning today, Musharraf avoided the impeachment that loomed over his head (another first) which would have carried confrontation further. As I left on August 12 for Jakarta to participate in a forum on Islam and Democracy in South Asia, someone remarked that I would be returning in five days to a transformed Pakistan. Not likely, I replied. Even if Musharraf went during this time, there would be no dramatic change. Inflation would continue to break the people’s backs, violence in the name of religion would continue to take lives, unprincipled forces would continue to try and sabotage the democratically elected government, hidden hands would continue to needle India and Afghanistan, and the lawyers would continue to agitate for restoring the judiciary that Musharraf had axed during his imposition of emergency on November 3 last year that the ruling coalition is dragging its feet over … (on BAITHAK, August 19, 2008).
Find her art and her publications on The 2007 KSG Gallery; on CHOWK; on the blog: Daiy Online Alochona; on Google Video-search; on Google Book-search; on Google Scholar-search; on Google Group-search; on Google Blog-search.
She writes also: … But the « war on terror » has also provided this government with an excuse to arrest and detain suspects without charge. More heinous human rights violations have also come to light. Qari Noor Mohammad, a religious activist in Faisalabad in Punjab province, was arrested recently and held without charge for several days before his corpse was dumped in front of his house. The lack of transparency that surrounds Pakistan’s fight against « terrorism » is contributing to a growing public sentiment against the anti-militancy drive, which is largely perceived to be taking place under US pressure. Particularly contentious is the ongoing military operation in Wana district in the Northern Areas, which the Pakistani army has entered for the first time ever. The army action in Wana, aimed against Al Qaeda and Taliban operatives who are believed to be hiding there, has led to several civilian casualties, including women and children, and rendered over 30,000 people homeless … (full text, September 2004).
Afghan women want a say in future order, October 22, 2001.
Born and brought up in Karachi, Beena Sarwar is an artist, journalist and filmmaker active in women’s rights, human rights and peace movements in Pakistan. With an undergraduate degree in art and literature from Brown University (1986), she has been assistant editor at the Star Weekend, Karachi; features editor of The Frontier Post, Lahore; and founding editor for The News on Sunday. She contributes a weekly column ‘Personal Political’ to The News, Pakistan, as well as Tehelka in India and the US-based www.chowk.com. In addition to her work in print, Beena also has a master’s degree in TV Documentary from Goldsmiths College, London (2001), and has been a producer for Geo Television in the News Department since 2002. She has in this time produced and directed several documentaries and news features. (Karafilmfest.com).
links:
A poem for Palin & A Palin theocracy? God, Oil and Guns;
Kishwar Nahid on Faraz, Sectarian war in Kurram agency;
Untouchable Hindus rejected by govt and people: study, by Amar Guriro;
Women’s relationships today follow a very predictable pattern;
the blog: Daily Noise.