February 10, 2007	Saturday	Muharram 21, 1428

PESHAWAR, Feb 9: The Alliance for Protection of Human Rights (APHR) has rejected the proposed code of conduct and termed it a needless move by the government to restrict the activities of non-governmental organisations.

The Aurat Foundation, Strengthening Participatory Organisation, Human Resource Management and Development Centre, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Khwendo Kor, Shirkat Gah, Sungi Development Foundation and Noor Education Trust rejected the move at a meeting held here on Friday.

Members of the human rights organisations deliberated on the proposed code of conduct for regulation and operation of NGOs and described it a document replete with ambiguities and unclear terms.

The participants noted with concern that the government was trying to place curbs on the working of NGOs and forcing non-compliant organisations into submission.

“The government wants us to toe the official line and stop challenging the unwise policies and actions the rulers are taking,” they said.

The APHR members believed that the so-called regulators would have immense powers to review the working of NGOs and interfere with their funding and expenditure.

“These unlimited powers will enable the government officials to bully the vocal NGOs by freezing their assets, dissolving boards of directors and even leading to their shutdown,” the members feared and vowed to resist the move.

The participants said the proposed code of conduct would create a lot of problems for those NGOs which were engaged in the advocacy-based work.

“The unclear terms such as “good work” and “effective manners” are sure to hurt those organisations which are working for improving the human rights situation in the country,” the alliance members said, adding that the proposed code would snatch from the NGOs the very right to association.

The APHR members demanded of the government to shelve the plan as laws already existed to regulate the working of NGOs and there was no need to reinvent the wheel.