ISLAMABAD: The Human Rights Watch has urged the government to immediately withdraw new regulations that will severely restrict operations by international non-governmental organisations in the country.

The “Policy for Regulation of INGOs in Pakistan,” announced early this month will worsen the already deteriorating working climate for international humanitarian and human rights groups, the HRW said in a statement on Wednesday.

The new regulations require all INGOs to register and obtain prior permission from the ministry of interior to carry out any activity in the country, and restrict their operations to specific issues and geographical areas.

Also read-Editorial:Regulating INGOs

The ministry is empowered to cancel registrations on the grounds of “involvement in any activity inconsistent with Pakistan’s national interests, or contrary to the government’s policy” — terms which have vague meanings and can be used for political reasons to target critical organisations or individuals.

“Pakistan’s new rules allow authorities to kick out international groups for anything they might do or say,” said Brad Adams, Asia’s Director at Human Rights Watch.

“The regulations are an invitation to arbitrary use of power and will put at risk any international organisation whose work exposes government failures,” he said.

The government has the responsibility to prevent fraud, financial malfeasance, and other illegal activities by INGOs, but Pakistan already has laws and regulations for addressing such concerns, the Human Rights Watch said. The new regulations will severely restrict the right to freedom of association and expression for Pakistanis working for INGOS, as well as for foreign nationals.

These rights are protected under Pakistan’s constitution and international law, it said.

Published in Dawn, October 8th , 2015

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