Ms. Farkhanda Aurangzeb has vast experience in academia, human rights, law, and gender. She established and headed the Gender Studies Department at the University of Balochistan and was also a visiting professor at the Balochistan Law College. Ms. Farkhanda has been closely involved with civil society as a founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). She drafted the GRAP (Gender Reform Action Plan) for Balochistan and the Regional Report on follow up of Beijing 1995.

She has previously served as a member of the President’s Advisory Board on Social Welfare as well as at UN Women as a Gender Expert on an Election Commission of Pakistan’s project for a five-year strategic plan focused on gender-mainstreaming. Ms. Farkhanda has been a prominent activist for jail reform in Balochistan with the aim of providing prisoners education and payment of fines for their early release.

Mr. Nadeem Ashraf a law graduate and holds a post graduate Diploma in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut, USA and advance certification in Public Sector Management from Harvard University, USA. During his career he worked as Sub Divisional Magistrate and District Magistrate in various Districts of Punjab. He has served as Additional Secretary Home Department, Secretary Education Department and Secretary Ministry of Human Rights. Mr. Nadeem Ashraf has an extensive exposure to human rights in Punjab and issues at the ground level as well as at the policy making level. He has inter acted with international human right organizations and represented Pakistan at forums both within and abroad

Mr. Tariq Javed holds an M.Sc. in Criminal Justice and Police Management from Leicester University, United Kingdom. With 28 years of experience in management roles, he has also dedicated six years to the UN in Mozambique, East Timor, and Sudan where he served as a Human Rights Advisor. His previous roles also include various human rights positions in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

Ms. Anis Haroon has a back ground in International Relations and Law with an extensive knowledge of human rights issues in the province of Sindh with a focus on women’s rights. From 2009 to 2012 she served as the Chairperson of the National Commission of the Status of Women. In 2013, Anis served as caretaker Minister for Women Development, Government of Sindh. Anis has experience in the non governmental sector and has also headed civil society organisations in Sindh as Resident Director.

Mr. Manzoor Masih has a background in Political Science from the University of Punjab and has over 35 years of experience advocating for the rights of minorities and interfaith harmony in Pakistan. He also has vast experience of working in the Office of the Federal Ombudsman.

He has previously served as the General Secretary of the Pakistan Welfare Society and served as a member of the District Minority Committee. Mr. Manzoor Masih’s advocacy for the rights of minorities have included initiatives such as allocation of minority seats in the Senate and National Assembly of Pakistan and the change of curriculum in schools to include minority leaders in Pakistan.

Ghulam Murtaza Rana has been an essential figure at the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) since its establishment in 2015, presently holding the position of Acting Secretary designate. His journey with the Commission reflects a wealth of experience and dedication, having been involved since its inception. With a background in Parliamentary Services dating back to 1982, Mr. Rana’s contributions have been invaluable, particularly in his roles within the Senate of Pakistan, where he served until his retirement as Additional Secretary BPS-21.

Throughout his career, Mr. Rana has showcased a deep commitment to human rights, evident in his tenure as Secretary of the Senate Committee of Human Rights, where he actively participated in legislative efforts concerning human rights issues. His transition to the NCHR as a consultant in 2016 marked a new chapter, eventually leading to his current position as Acting Secretary designate. In his nearly 8 years at the Commission, Mr. Rana has played a pivotal role in its administrative functions and human rights initiatives, drawing upon his extensive expertise and institutional memory to drive meaningful change.