Source: The News - 27 May 99

NGOs for Binyamin's resignation

ISLAMABAD - The coalition of Rawalpindi-Islamabad NGOs (CORIN) Wednesday condemned the language used against NGOs by the Punjab Minister Pir Binyamin Rizvi and demanded his resignation.

Addressing a press conference the members of CORIN and heads of different NGOs also demanded public apology from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif. Binyamin in his interview to a newspaper said that NGOs are involved in supplying girls to the high government officials to get their jobs done.

Omar Asghar Khan an active executive of CORIN and founder of Sangi (NGO) said, "we specially demand apology from Shahbaz Sharif who claimed to be a follower of good governance, to get resignation from his cabinet member like Binyamin and tender public apology."

Dr Zafar Khan Executive Director of Network said, "Binyamin should come out with evidence against NGOs to prove his latest allegations, otherwise the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister should tender public apology."

The CORIN condemning the hostile steps of the government against the NGOs was of the view that government fearing voice against its wrong doings wanted to bulldoze NGOs. The operation against NGOs, initiated from Punjab has now spread to other provinces. "Hostility against NGOs is undermining the efforts made by these volunteer organizations working in different sectors including health, education, community-based work, rural development, environment protection, etc." Zafar said.

The CORIN alleged that the government has dissolved as many as 2500 NGOs in Punjab, Sindh and NWFP provinces without following a transparent process. Saba Khattak, Irfan Mufti, Zafar and Omar in a joint statement said, "the way adopted by the government to dissolve the NGOs does not augur well for a civil society in democratic country like Pakistan."

On behalf of Pakistan NGO Forum, the CORIN demanded that responsible government ministers, advisors etc. should stop making vulgar and obscene statements against NGOs activists and organizations.

To restore the image of NGOs, the government should make public statements like a democratic and civilized state.

They also demanded that use PTV to malign human rights and women's rights organizations should be stopped forthwith. The government should invite all those organizations, which have been targeted to live panel discussion on PTV to facilitate frank and open dialogue. The intimidation and harassment of NGOs CBOs staff by frequent visits of intelligence agencies should be stopped forthwith. The de-registration campaign against NGOs should be immediately stopped and the case of dissolved NGOs should be reviewed in a transparent manner.

The circulation and use of irrelevant questionnaires to intimidate and incriminate NGOs should be stopped forthwith.

The government should observe the principles of participation and transparency in any initiatives, which could affect the functioning of NGOs. The NGOs reject the government's drafted a so-called NGO Bill that aimed to restrict and control the NGO sector. The existing NGO laws are should be made more enabling.

They also demanded to enhance the capacity of the social welfare department so that it could play an enabling role instead of being used as an agency of control - NNI.


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