PESHAWAR, Nov 11: The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the NWFP, a forum of civil society groups, has hailed the Peshawar High Court for ensuring the writ of law in the judgment  regarding confiscation of assets and closure of Swabi office of an NGO, Rise, on the behest of the NWFP governor.

In a press release issued here on Monday, a spokesperson of the JAC stated that the high court’s judgment has given a clear signal that no one was above law.

The committee stated that the governor’s inspection team raided the Rise office in Swabi in May 2001 and confiscated all its assets and sealed the office on the orders of the NWFP governor. The NGO registered under the Societies Act 1860 was given no prior notice of the action or the opportunity to explain their position.

The JAC at that time had strongly questioned  the  team’s mandate to conduct  such  arbitrary investigation against the NGOs. The members demanded of the governor to  return the assets and follow a legal  procedure  for investigation according to law. They had offered their assistance to ensure transparency in the process. A detailed report prepared by a task force formed by the JAC. The committee stated that Rise had to face a great deal of pressure from the GIT’s officials.

The judgment of the high court on the case declaring the GIT’s action outside their mandate and demanding the return of all its assets would greatly build the confidence of the people and civil society organizations in the justice system, the JAC added. This has also vindicated JAC’s position regarding the role and mandate of the GIT and would have long lasting implications for the NGOs working in the province.

The JAC hoped that the present government would in future ensure that they act within the law and refrain from unjustified actions and avoid interference in the working of civil society organisations specially NGOs.