Proceed as before: Court suspends order of nonprofit’s closure

NGO allowed to continue operations in different districts of Punjab

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has suspended orders against the functioning of the nonprofit South Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK), offices of which were forced to shut down over alleged ‘anti-state activities.

On Monday, LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah allowed the not-for-profit organisation to continue with its activities in different districts on a plea by SAP-PK, which was represented by Asma Jahangir.

The chief justice also summoned the functionaries of the interior ministry and Punjab Home Department on January 27, the next date of hearing, ordering that no coercive measure should be taken against the staff of the NGO.

Appearing before the court, Asma said the SAP-PK was an entity registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. She said it was a nonprofit, nongovernmental organisation established for charitable, educational and development purposes.

The human rights activist stressed it had been performing these duties for the past 27 years and always remained within constitutional limits. She said the SAP-PK has a board of directors, which sets policy and the executive director was mandated with the power to implement the same through already laid down guidelines.

On a regional level, SAP-PK employs a district programme coordinator in different areas of the province. She said the activities were transparent and open to the extent that SAP-PK invariably invited government functionaries to attend events so there was greater engagement.

On behalf of SAP-PK Executive Director Muhammad Tahseen, Asma said the DPCs of Nankana Sahib, Layyah, Bahawalpur and Bhakkar recently received letters from respondents Social Welfare Department and Baitul Maal.

The document ordered the NGO to stop all its activities with immediate effect, close offices and suspend operations throughout the country. She said these orders were issued on the instructions of the Ministry of Interior and the Punjab Home Department.

Asma said police were harassing SAP-PK to stop their activities. “These workers cannot be victimised in an abrupt and non-transparent manner,” she said, requesting the court declare the order as illegal and unconstitutional.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 24^th, 2017.