RAWALPINDI: The federal government has directed the Punjab government to strictly ban fundraising by proscribed organisations and to monitor the activities of NGOs and other charities working across the province and initiate action against them under Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

According to sources, a directive, sent to the Punjab government by National Counter-terrorism Authority (NACTA), said it had come to the knowledge of the authority that some organisations placed under schedule II of ATA, 1997 by the federal government had been openly collecting donations from the citizens in the provincial capital and other cities of Punjab.

A senior police official said though the law enforcement agencies had been keeping a check on such activities by banned outfits, some influential were still involved in fundraising activities and needed to be checked. He said requesting anonymity that the law enforcement agencies had been facing problems in taking action against such people.

“Due to weaknesses on part of law enforcement agencies, the government agency is facing problems in checking their activities,” he said.

It further directed the Punjab police chief for necessary action against such banned organisations aimed at checking funds collection activities by proscribed or such organisations which had been placed under observation or dubious organisations.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2017