November 02, 2007	Friday	Shawwal 20, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Nov 1: Humanitarian agencies will meet on November 13 at a ‘national security conference’ to devise a joint strategy regarding the escalating violence against civil society organisations.

Leading non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been increasingly coming under extremists’ attacks during the past couple of months in NWFP. Almost 12 major incidents have been reported in which both the workers of international and national organizations were attacked.

The conference has been convened by the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), a national NGO having vast network throughout the country, which has been attacked thrice recently. Several of its workers were injured when extremists fired a rocket at its offices in Battagram on Tuesday. The attack had led to a suspension of all aid work in Battagram and surrounding areas.

The conference is expected to be participated by the UN agencies, international and major national NGOs.

Malick Shahbaz, an official of SPO, said the objective of the conference was to send a unified message to the government about the concerns of the civil society and to develop a strategy about adjusting to the new security paradigm.

“We would like to exert pressure on the government to create an enabling environment for the humanitarian organizations to work,” Mr Shahbaz said, adding, they would also be coming up with security information sharing mechanism for the NGOs.

Asked if the conference was expected to yield the desired results, he said a unanimous message from the aid agencies would certainly have its impact.

Meanwhile, the Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO) has held the government responsible for the increased attacks on the civil society organizations in the NWFP and the overall deteriorating law and order situation.