Apex panel decides to re-register, audit NGO

Agrees to launch a crackdown against illegal arms, monitor private security firms, seminaries

KARACHI: Sindh’s apex committee on Tuesday decided to ensure re-registration, surveillance and audit of local and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs), crackdown against cancelled arms licences, monitoring of private security agencies, policing of seminaries and indexing of immigrants.

In the post meeting presser, Sindh’s Information Minister Nisar Ahmed Khuhro said all stakeholders of the committee, including the Karachi corps commander, reposed their confidence in the provincial government for its efforts to eliminate terrorism and restore peace.

“The Tuesday’s meeting was convened to discuss the follow-ups in connection to the recent meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad,” he said.

Re-registration of NGOs

Khuhro said the meeting observed that all local and foreign NGOs operating in the province were needed to be registered with the provincial government as well as the federal government.

“As per the decision, the NGOs will be needing security clearance from the concerned authorities. They will have to submit their framework, their sources of income and its expenditure,” he said, adding that the organisations’ activities will be monitored and their finances audited.



He said the government is making a database of these organisations, which will be shared with National Database Registration Authority (Nadra). The minister said during the upcoming Eidul Azha, no banned organisation will be allowed to collect sacrificial animal hides. “The welfare organisations collecting the hides will also have to provide details of the funds they procured through selling them as well the incomes’ expenditure.”

Crackdown against arms licences

Talking about the government’s previous attempt to scrutinise the licensed weapons possessors, he said more than one million arms licence were given in the province, out of which 60 per cent stood cancelled during the verification process. Only 400,000 arm licences were verified, he maintained.

“A crackdown against those licence possessors who failed to come up during the verification process is going to be launched as their data will be provided to the home department and police for recovery of weapons,” he asserted.

Clearance for security companies

Khuhro said there were around 257 private security agencies operating in the province and their functions were needed to be monitored too.

“We have decided a devise a code of conduct for these companies. From their top management level to their lowest position, everybody will need a security clearance,” he maintained. “It will be strictly ensured that no foreigner gets employed in these companies or gets their partnership or ownership rights,” he said.  “It will be mandatory for these security companies to get their guards trained by the police department and bear whatever its cost may be. Moreover, the companies will be directed to present a compensation plan for guards, in case of any mishap,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 16^th, 2015.