This study was conducted by AWAZCDS-Pakistan to understand the socio-economic and political situation of PATareas in southern districts of D G Khan and Rajan Pur in the Punjab Province of Pakistan. The study was initially conducted in 2005 and it was published in English. I hope your organization has received the copy of that English edition in December 2005. This edition is in Urdu and it is based on the facts and figures of the previous study revealed by the PATcommunities during meetings and forums conducted by AWAZCDS’s field teams after the initial study in 2005. The study gives details about nine different tribes well known as Tumans (the basic unit for revenue collection and civil administration introduced in the British regime). The PATof Punjab is actually an area surrounded by four Provinces of Pakistan but still it is recognized as de-excluded area under Provincial administration of Punjab government. The inhabitants of the area are not recognized citizens of Pakistan as the word “de-excluded” is still mentioned at their National Identity Cards. They are living under feudal strangleholds and are being governed under tribal laws, systems. No state institution exists and people follow and believe upon age old inhuman customary practices and values to get access to so called justice.
