LAHORE: A number of civil society representatives gathered at the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday to condemn what they termed harassment and blackmailing by the government.

Explaining the agenda of the day, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan Secretary General I.A. Rehman said civil society organisations were being harassed in many ways -- from unidentified people coming to their offices and asking for personal details to some renowned organisations being issued letters to close down. Most non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were registered under the Societies Registrar, but the letters were being sent by other departments.

Muhammad Tahseen, executive director of an NGO, said his offices in their Bhakkar and Layyah were sent letters by the social welfare department, while their main office in Lahore was not even informed.

Farida Shaheed said whether it was social lobbying or media activism, whoever raised their voice was attacked and silenced. “They see us as committing anti-state activities when we raise our voices for the marginalised, but when it comes to the real terrorists we still don’t see any work being done under the National Action Plan,” she said.

Farooq Tariq said that the main reason for this ‘harassment’ was to eliminate all dialogue between the state and public. He alleged that the government was trying to silence every voice of dissent.

Robina Jamil from All Pakistan Trade Union Federation said that it was pathetic that the government deemed it a crime to speak up against issues such as rape or child labour. Mahar Safdar Ali from the Bonded Labour Liberation Front Pakistan said that if speaking up against issues such as bonded labour was a crime then they would rather be criminals than be silent.

Bushra Khaliq, who found out in a newspaper that her organisation had been ordered to close down, questioned why the government and its agencies required information about her children when only she was part of her NGO.

Mr Rehman said that while some NGOs had been issued notices, there were others who had been shut down without notice or those that were not allowed to operate at all. In Multan, Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan no activity was allowed.

Mr Tahseen said that if things kept going the same way, they would consider going to court.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2017