Islamabad: Pakistan Civil Society Forum (PCSF) and other civil society organisations have expressed deep concern over the attempts of curbing voices of civil society actors mainly INGOs and National NGOs working on human rights, democracy and social justice.
Rights activists and civil society representatives organised a press conference on Wednesday to communicate their concerns and reservations about the recent government decision asking 31 NGOs to close their operations in Pakistan.
The speakers were of the opinion that the decision to disallow the functioning of several International NGOs is also an attempt to control their voices and their abilities to access resources for promotion of people's socio-economic and political rights. They said that the current trend of the state-authorities to silent independent voices in media will be counter-productive and will become further divisive for Pakistani society.
Addressing the press conference, Senator Farhatullah Babar said the matter regarding working of INGOs should have been discussed in the parliament first. He said that he would raise the issue at the Senate of Pakistan. Former Senator Afrasiab Khattak was of view that by making such decisions, our policy makers were pushing Pakistan towards further global isolation.
Director Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), I A Rehman said that the act of government was totally unlawful and hence, cannot be accepted. He said that the state was trying to silent the voices that play a watchful role for the rights of the people.
Executive Director of Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri said that the state can lay out rules to regulate INGOs in Pakistan. “However, asking 31 INGOs to close down, without giving any reason was illogical.” He said government must follow proper procedure in this regard. He said that the rejection of MOUs of INGOs may jeopardize Pakistan's GSP Plus status which would be huge loss considering the existing state of economy and trade deficit of the country.
Muhammad Tahseen, of SAP-PK, on the occasion said that PCSF was perturbed on the lack of transparency in policy-making that is blatantly arbitrary without taking into confidence the stakeholders and in total disregard to their contribution for the development of people of Pakistan. The decision shows total arbitrariness and adhochism followed by the federal authorities.
He said that the Forum also notes with concern the attempts by state bodies harassing NGO workers and those working for INGOs. These attempts are creating a climate of fear and harassment and discouraging these organisations to speak for fundamental rights and democracy. “These policies are contrary to national legal framework as well as Pakistan's international obligations,” he said.
Human rights activist Hina Jilani, Executive Director Aurat Foundation Naeem Ahmad Mirza and President Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) Afzal Butt also shared their views about the issue on the occasion. They said that being representatives of civil society, they believe that no concerns or interests of the state can be served through tactics that undermine the capacity of civil society to further their work through international cooperation. “Especially at a time when Pakistan is faced with multiple challenges of poverty, slowing down of economic growth, fight against extremism, international isolation and other daunting challenges,” they said.
A statement issued by the PCSF on the occasion said that the country is not progressing well on areas of basic education, primary health and economic marginalisation and ending violence against women, minorities and vulnerabilities of the marginalised.
“These organisations which are making credible inputs and contributions in dealing with these challenges are facing such stern actions will further undermine their work in dealing with these core challenges. Such policies and arbitrary will deeply undermine the trust even further and will take the real discourse away from the actual issues the country and its citizens are faced with,” says the statement.