Back in business: Punjab withdraws order to close down nonprofits
LHC disposes of petition after law officers say two NGOs can operate
PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
The Punjab government has withdrawn closure notices issued to two nonprofits on accusations of ‘anti-state activities’ after the managements of the organisations went to court. This was disclosed by the law officers representing the federal and provincial governments in the Lahore High Court.
On Friday, LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the petition filed by South Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK) and Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) through their executive directors Muhammad Tahseen and Bushra Khaliq, respectively.
Justice Mansoor disposed of the petitions for being fructified after the statement of the law officers.
Bushra had challenged the circular issued on the recommendation of the home department by Punjab Industries, Commerce and Investment Department, directing her organisation to stop its operations in different districts of the province.
The authorities accused her non-governmental organisation of being involved in ‘objectionable’ and ‘anti-state activities’. She termed the allegations levelled against her organisation ‘baseless’.
SAP-PK counsel Asma Jahangir submitted the organisation was a society, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. She argued the not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation was established for charitable, educational and development purposes and had been operating since 1989 within constitutional limits.
The lawyer said the SAP-PK’s board of directors comprised eminent people, who set the policy of the society and the executive director was mandated to implement the policy through the guidelines laid down by the board.
At the regional level, SAP-PK employs a district programme coordinator across the province. Its activities are transparent and open to the extent that SAP-PK has invariably invited government functionaries to attend its events for greater engagement between civil society and the government, she contended.
On behalf of the SAP-PK executive-director, Asma submitted the DPCs of Nankana Sahib, Layyah, Bahawalpur and Bhakkar recently received letters from respondent Social Welfare and Baitul Maal, directing them to stop all activities with immediate effect, to close its offices and suspend its operations throughout the country.
She added the orders were issued on the directions of the interior ministry and the Punjab Home Department.
The letter read: “The SAP-PK has been observed working in South Punjab pursuing anti-state agenda accusing armed forces and law-enforcement agencies of harassment of workers and curtailing freedom of action of the NGOs.”
The letter also accused the nonprofit of preparing a shadow report to be shared with the UN Human Rights Commission and presenting a bleak picture of human rights situation in Pakistan, targeting directly the measures taken under the National Action Plan against terrorism.
Asma termed the letter ‘misleading and illegal’, claiming the allegations made against SAP-PK of producing a shadow report for the UN was incorrect in the first place. And even if such a report was to be made, the nonprofit or any individual had all the rights to do so.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2017.
The Punjab government has withdrawn closure notices issued to two nonprofits on accusations of ‘anti-state activities’ after the managements of the organisations went to court. This was disclosed by the law officers representing the federal and provincial governments in the Lahore High Court.
On Friday, LHC Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah heard the petition filed by South Asia Partnership-Pakistan (SAP-PK) and Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE) through their executive directors Muhammad Tahseen and Bushra Khaliq, respectively.
Justice Mansoor disposed of the petitions for being fructified after the statement of the law officers.
Bushra had challenged the circular issued on the recommendation of the home department by Punjab Industries, Commerce and Investment Department, directing her organisation to stop its operations in different districts of the province.
The authorities accused her non-governmental organisation of being involved in ‘objectionable’ and ‘anti-state activities’. She termed the allegations levelled against her organisation ‘baseless’.
SAP-PK counsel Asma Jahangir submitted the organisation was a society, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. She argued the not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation was established for charitable, educational and development purposes and had been operating since 1989 within constitutional limits.
The lawyer said the SAP-PK’s board of directors comprised eminent people, who set the policy of the society and the executive director was mandated to implement the policy through the guidelines laid down by the board.
At the regional level, SAP-PK employs a district programme coordinator across the province. Its activities are transparent and open to the extent that SAP-PK has invariably invited government functionaries to attend its events for greater engagement between civil society and the government, she contended.
On behalf of the SAP-PK executive-director, Asma submitted the DPCs of Nankana Sahib, Layyah, Bahawalpur and Bhakkar recently received letters from respondent Social Welfare and Baitul Maal, directing them to stop all activities with immediate effect, to close its offices and suspend its operations throughout the country.
She added the orders were issued on the directions of the interior ministry and the Punjab Home Department.
The letter read: “The SAP-PK has been observed working in South Punjab pursuing anti-state agenda accusing armed forces and law-enforcement agencies of harassment of workers and curtailing freedom of action of the NGOs.”
The letter also accused the nonprofit of preparing a shadow report to be shared with the UN Human Rights Commission and presenting a bleak picture of human rights situation in Pakistan, targeting directly the measures taken under the National Action Plan against terrorism.
Asma termed the letter ‘misleading and illegal’, claiming the allegations made against SAP-PK of producing a shadow report for the UN was incorrect in the first place. And even if such a report was to be made, the nonprofit or any individual had all the rights to do so.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2017.