On the anti-state bandwagon

A dozen and a half International Non-Government Organisations (INGOs) are packing up from Pakistan after getting orders from the Interior Ministry to close their operations within 60 days.

In its letter, separately sent to these INGOs, the ministry wrote that their request for registration was considered but has not been approved. The ministry further directed these ousted INGOs to wind up their operations within two months. The ministry also offered these INGOs to re-apply for registration after a period of six months. However, they have to close their offices in 60 days and re-apply through their head office in respective countries after six months.

The INGOs told to close their offices include Centre for International Private Enterprise, (CIPE), Internews Network (US), Pathfinder International (US), Central Asia Education Trust (US), American Center for International Labor Solidarity (Solidarity Center) (US), World Vision (US), Catholic Relief Services (CRS) (US), Plan International (US), International Relief and Development Inc, (IRD) (US), International Alert (UK), Safeworld (UK), ActionAid (UK), Stichting BRAC International (Netherland), Rutgers (Netherland), Trocaire (Ireland), Danish Refugee Council (DRC)( Denmark), Foundation Open Society Institute (FOSI) (Switzerland), ISCOS, Trade Unions Institute for Development Coop, (Italy).

Clearly, the INGOs have reservations about all this. "It is a totally one-sided decision and we have not been informed about any accusation or charge-sheet. Even during the period of appeal, we were not heard at all. In the last meeting all these INGOs representatives were called in the Interior Ministry and told that their appeal(s) have been heard and they will be intimated about the decision in a couple of days," country director of one of the ousted INGOs says, asking not to be named. "Later, we got letters from the ministry which do not explain reasons for this decision."

He says his INGO has decided to not re-apply but shift the projects and funding to some other country. "We do not want to work in this environment," he says, adding, "Apart from this, nearly 50 member staff of the INGO has been told to find new jobs."

ActionAid, another expelled INGO, has publicly questioned this decision. Moreover, some of these expelled INGOs who have been working in the country for the past many years plan to move court against it.

"We had thought the new government would re-think this policy and better understand the issue. Unfortunately, in the very first month of its tenure, the ruling party decided to go with the old policy, without consulting any of us or civil society groups," says another senior representative of an INGO. "This will affect at least a few thousand jobs and foreign remittances that were coming through official channels and were being used in this country. If there is a charge-sheet against us, they should tell us."

Civil society groups, representing the Pakistan Civil Society Forum, Pakistan Human Rights Defenders Network, and other national organisations and regional networks, have condemned this decision as it would impact Pakistan’s development agenda. Civil society groups believe ejecting the registration applications of several INGOs also violates the framework of the right to freedom of association, which is enshrined in Article 17 of the Constitution and guaranteed by major international conventions on rights such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Article 22) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 20).

"If any of these organisations or individuals associated are involved in any unlawful activity or crime they should be prosecuted within the due process of law. Otherwise, this will be seen as the government’s attack on civic freedom. Pakistan is a functional democracy and cannot afford such actions due to flawed and non-consultative decisions," the statement further said.

The minister for Human Rights, Shireen Mazari, has termed such condemnations and concerns "absurd". Sharing her reaction to such statements, she sarcastically tweeted, "To declare this decision "absurd" when they claim that INGOs departure will destroy democracy and weaken civil society in Pak! Seriously! Our democracy and civil society survival is premised on INGOs being allowed to work here? Such arrogance!"

State Minister for Interior Sheharyar Khan Afridi, while meeting a delegation of European Union on this matter, said these INGOs were asked to shut down operations in Pakistan after due process due to security concerns. "No one is allowed to get involved in actions against the state," the minister said. "No one would be allowed to create instability in the country under the cover of international or local aid workers as there will be no compromise on the country’s security."

Talking briefly to The News on Sunday, the minister further said the decision was taken after a thorough investigation, which found that certain elements were using these INGOs as a cover and were actively involved in anti-state activities in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and parts of Sindh. "There will be no compromise on the country’s security."

In November 2013, the then government approved a policy for non-government organisations (NGOs) receiving foreign contributions to ensure transparent utilisation of funds and to streamline their activities. Under this policy, all INGOs that previously operated on no objection certificates issued by the government now needed a separate registration and were required to disclose their activities and areas of work in plain view before Interior Ministry and a committee which also comprises representatives of intelligence agencies. In 2015, the former government came up with a new policy to register INGOs, following which all INGOs were asked to reapply according to the new procedures.

A number of them, including these 18 INGOs, were also asked to close their operations by the end of December 2017. Later, the interior minister gave some relief and allowed them to work till their appeals were decided. According to the Interior Ministry official record, as many as 141 INGOs have applied to the Interior Ministry for registration under the new process.

Analysts assume the development sector attracts around $400 million a year, which would be jeopardised because of the decision.

"This decision needs serious deliberation and review. At the moment, it is one-sided. It needs transparency, and if there are any black sheep in this sector the government should tell this publicly rather than keeping it vague and issuing a blanket rejection to these INGOs," says development expert Abid Qaiyum Suleri. He says no doubt the state has the right to take these steps but "it is not fair to oust 18 INGOs in one go without giving a good solid reason".

He says, "It would be difficult to defend this step by the government domestically and internationally, particularly at a time when we need international friends in economic crisis. And if remained unexplained, it would create doubts and affect the country’s image."

Kaiser Bengali, economist and development expert, says "many of these organisations had been working in this country for the past three decades and had never been controversial. Expelling them without a charge-sheet and accusing them of acting against the state is strange and indicates the shrinking space and freedom for civil society in Pakistan."