Pakistan’s government has come under increasing pressure from a number of countries after asking 18 international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) to close down and leave the country.
Concerns have been raised that action was taken against the charities without clarity and arbitrarily, while some say the decision was driven by the military and intelligence agencies.
With charities underscoring the shrinking space for civil society in Pakistan, a group of western states, led by the United States and the European Union, wrote to Prime Minister Imran Khan last month expressing “serious concerns” about the targeting of INGOs.
“Restriction on civil society risks affecting Pakistan’s international reputation as a genuine partner on human development and undermining confidence of the international donor and business community,” said the letter to Khan.
On Thursday, Pakistan looked to address the criticism through an official order. “Pakistan’s INGO policy framework is fully aligned with nationally determined development priorities and needs. We recognize and appreciate the assistance from the donor community and INGOs,” the official government communique read.
Obscure process
The government’s statement came one week after the human rights committee in the Senate took notice of the INGOs being banned and urged the interior ministry to make the process more transparent.
The Senate committee discussed the case of the Al-Rahmah Welfare Trust Organization, a charity focused on helping orphans and widows in Afghanistan, Syria and Pakistan. The notice sent to Al-Rahman in September accused the charity of “indulging in dubious activities.”
While the government order on Thursday claimed that “the grounds for rejection are clearly laid out in the policy document provisions,” Pakistan People’s Party leader and Senate human rights committee chairperson Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said the INGOs were not categorically told what their crimes were before being asked to wrap up their operations.
“This is unfair and has resulted in foreign envoys writing to the prime minister asking why the groups aren’t informed about their unlawful activities,” he says. “Such decisions need to be taken by the cabinet and not just the interior ministry.”
Despite the government in its statement claiming that INGOs continue to operate “freely in Pakistan,” the clampdown on charities continues unabated in the country.
Army involvement
In interviews with Asia Times, officials from five different charities revealed being coerced by members of the country’s security agencies. “The interior ministry is the front, of course. The orders come from the GHQ,” said an official, referring to the military headquarters. “Those groups that don’t have their licenses canceled are forced to toe the line of the security agencies, and are basically at their mercy.”
Insiders say that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies have become increasingly skeptical about the INGOs following the case of Shakil Afridi, the doctor who helped the US Central Intelligence Agency hunt down Osama bin Laden in 2011.
Save the Children, the INGO Afridi was affiliated with as part of the Bin Laden operation, was asked to leave the country twice, first in 2012 and then it was forced to permanently down its operations in 2015.
While Save the Children claimed it had no involvement in the operation, since its exit Pakistan has increased its crackdown on international aid groups.
Under the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government, INGOs were frequently given their marching orders. In December last year, 27 INGOs were asked to leave. The PML-N’s successor, the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), seems to be pursuing an identical policy.
“This is because they aren’t the ones making this policy; it is the aliens [a euphemism for the army] who are taking these actions under the garb of counter-terrorism,” said Mohammad Tahseen, Convener of the Pakistan Civil Society Forum (PCSF) and Founding Director of the South Asia Partnership Pakistan Mohammad Tahseen.
“While there have been cases where foreign groups have been involved in suspicious activities, the state has largely become paranoid with regards to the INGOs, and isn’t letting them do their work properly,” he added.
Tahseen expects the situation to deteriorate under Lieutenant General Asim Munir, the new Director-General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who comes with the reputation of being a hardliner.
Speaking to Asia Times, veteran charity worker Maryam Bibi, who has collaborated with various local and international aid organizations in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal regions, said the only way for INGOs to survive in Pakistan was for them to “compromise.”
“You need to know who is calling the shots and compromise. Over the years I have learned that a confrontational approach can be counter-productive,” she says.
“For instance, since Dr Shakil Afridi’s arrest, I’ve personally made sure that every time my organization is inviting someone from overseas, their name and details are shared in advance with the security agencies. If you’re proactive and cooperate with them, you can survive.”
Bibi, however, urged the government to bridge the communication gap with the charities.
“What is direly needed is a platform that works as a bridge between the INGOs and the government, so that concerns can be shared and only those involved in unlawful activities are targeted.”
they should only allow NGOs like Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Tehreek-e-Labbaik to function in pakistan for charity and public welfare. other humanitarian organizations should be banned ………..
they should only allow NGOs like Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Tehreek-e-Labbaik to function in pakistan for charity and public welfare. other humanitarian organizations should be banned ………..
Rohot pandiya, why not you ask Moodi rgime to ban RSS, a terrorist outfit in India?
Rohot pandiya, why not you ask Moodi rgime to ban RSS, a terrorist outfit in India?
Muhammad Fayyaz RSS is not an NGO. It is a political ideology acceptable to some but not all. The charities I mentioned are acceptable to all Pakistanis and hence should be allowed to exist as they represent your country.
Muhammad Fayyaz RSS is not an NGO. It is a political ideology acceptable to some but not all. The charities I mentioned are acceptable to all Pakistanis and hence should be allowed to exist as they represent your country.
As mentioned in article those communicating with military bross have no problem. Not to repeat Pakistan is being administered by army both for security and external affairs.IK was tipped to get power on the pledge not to interfere in these two matters. Foreign Minister SMQ also agreed to this arrangement. Port folio of Internal security matters was kept by IK to ensure uniterrupted implementation of military brass poilicies. Aforementioned arrangements are in place since many decades and not likely to change even in far future also. Intermitently political elite is facilitated to govern the country on matters other than security and external affairs. PTI got the oppertunity under same conditions. Those INGOS, though working for welfare but aught to be cleared by interior and exterior ministry, understand this ground reality and build good relations with military brass can work and survive in Pakistan.
This is a hard reality and is required to be understood by all.
As mentioned in article those communicating with military bross have no problem. Not to repeat Pakistan is being administered by army both for security and external affairs.IK was tipped to get power on the pledge not to interfere in these two matters. Foreign Minister SMQ also agreed to this arrangement. Port folio of Internal security matters was kept by IK to ensure uniterrupted implementation of military brass poilicies. Aforementioned arrangements are in place since many decades and not likely to change even in far future also. Intermitently political elite is facilitated to govern the country on matters other than security and external affairs. PTI got the oppertunity under same conditions. Those INGOS, though working for welfare but aught to be cleared by interior and exterior ministry, understand this ground reality and build good relations with military brass can work and survive in Pakistan.
This is a hard reality and is required to be understood by all.
Any of these on the list?
https://www.ned.org/region/asia/pakistan-2017/
Any of these on the list?
https://www.ned.org/region/asia/pakistan-2017/
Good one 🙂
1025 F STREET NW. SUITE 800, WASHINGTON DC
Go figure 🙂
Good one 🙂
1025 F STREET NW. SUITE 800, WASHINGTON DC
Go figure 🙂
INGO’s are nothing more than fronts for CIA. Their only task is to bring about policy or regime changes that perpetuates western interests and hegemony. All color revolutions, Arab Spring, turmoil in Ukraine, Rohinga crises, botched uprising in Russia against Putin after the previous elections, the list is endless, are the works of these INGO’s. National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, to name a few, are funded by the US government and "philanthropists" like Sorros. It took 10 years and over 52,000 INGO’s to fully penetrate India and make it "heel" – the Indians are still in denial though. Putin took care of the problem by passing a law for every INGO to register and disclose where every penny came from and where it was spent. It is high time other countries stood up and cleaned up this menace.
INGO’s are nothing more than fronts for CIA. Their only task is to bring about policy or regime changes that perpetuates western interests and hegemony. All color revolutions, Arab Spring, turmoil in Ukraine, Rohinga crises, botched uprising in Russia against Putin after the previous elections, the list is endless, are the works of these INGO’s. National Endowment for Democracy, Freedom House, to name a few, are funded by the US government and "philanthropists" like Sorros. It took 10 years and over 52,000 INGO’s to fully penetrate India and make it "heel" – the Indians are still in denial though. Putin took care of the problem by passing a law for every INGO to register and disclose where every penny came from and where it was spent. It is high time other countries stood up and cleaned up this menace.
Problem in India is that it’s a democracy with varied religious and ethnic groups each with its own ax to grind. Hence the moment govt. of the day tried to remove any NGO or block its funding the political groups who benefit from it begin to create a din.
Problem in India is that it’s a democracy with varied religious and ethnic groups each with its own ax to grind. Hence the moment govt. of the day tried to remove any NGO or block its funding the political groups who benefit from it begin to create a din.
Sonny Azhak you jews are getting 3 billionaid from usa for last 70 years.IF THERE IS A BEGGAR NATION ON EARTH IT IS ISRAEL
IF JEWS HAD ANY BACK BONE AND WILL TO STAND UP AND COUNTED THEN THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SLAVE FOR 2000 YEARS.
GET SOME BRAINS.
Sonny Azhak you jews are getting 3 billionaid from usa for last 70 years.IF THERE IS A BEGGAR NATION ON EARTH IT IS ISRAEL
IF JEWS HAD ANY BACK BONE AND WILL TO STAND UP AND COUNTED THEN THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SLAVE FOR 2000 YEARS.
GET SOME BRAINS.
Pakistan should not allow foreign companies run important tele communication. Russia and India has kicked out Telenor. Telenor subsidiaries has allegedly been involved in politics in other Asian countries. Why let Telenor, an alleged CIA front, operate telecom infrastructure important for national security? The Telenor deal stinks. Prime Minister should look into their deals, 40% of the income is profit!
Pakistan should not allow foreign companies run important tele communication. Russia and India has kicked out Telenor. Telenor subsidiaries has allegedly been involved in politics in other Asian countries. Why let Telenor, an alleged CIA front, operate telecom infrastructure important for national security? The Telenor deal stinks. Prime Minister should look into their deals, 40% of the income is profit!