18 INGOs asked to wrap up operations

Mohammad Jamil
On Sunday, eighteen International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) were notified by the government to wrap up their operations over failing to comply with prescribed rules in the country. Most of these NGOs reportedly funded by the United States, European nations, Israel and India were informed on 2nd October by the Ministry of Interior through notices that their application for registration had not been approved, and were asked to wind up operations within 60 days. Before taking this step against these organizations, intelligence agencies and the interior ministry had carried thorough investigation, who noted that 41 were involved in suspicious activities. However, action has been taken against 18 only which were operating near sensitive installations and conducting surveys, as well as, reportedly sharing their data with hostile agencies. However, 81 INGOs that work according to the law and rules in the country have been allowed to continue their operations.
It is worth noting that when deliberations were being held on FATA’s merger with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a youth movement emerged and gained prominence overnight. “These youth conducted surveys in the area, and afterwards were issued US visas. Just imagine what others foreign elements have to do with the issue of FATA’s merger with KP,” said the defence analyst. In December 2017, the federal government had ordered 21 foreign-aid groups to wrap up their activities and prepare to leave after they failed to re-register under regulations introduced two years ago. Many INGOs failed to meet the procedural requirement. The government had been scrutinising the documents of another 19 foreign-aid groups to determine whether they should be allowed to work in the country or not. Islamabad had started monitoring after the CIA used a vaccination campaign as a front to gather information on Osama bin Laden ahead of the United States raid that killed him in 2011.
The CIA had breached the agreement by concealing information from the ISI and tasking a Pakistani government official Dr. Shakeel Afridi for a job, which they knew was illegal. There was no reason for the CIA to hide information about Osama bin Laden from the ISI, because Pakistan had arrested scores of Al Qaeda leaders and operatives who were handed over to the US. There was not a single instance of shared information being leaked and the target forewarned. Having that said, the US administration is not justified in seeking Dr. Shakil Afridi’s release, because it would never like any US citizen to work for a foreign intelligence agency either. America has always displayed double standards. Take the case of Jonathan Pollard, an American citizen, who worked as an American civilian intelligence analyst before being convicted of spying for Israel. He received a life sentence in 1987 and still languishes in jail.
Anyhow, in 2015 Pakistan had ordered all INGOs already operating in the country to register with the ministry, a process that entailed submitting detailed accounts of their funding. “At the end of November, the interior ministry issued letters advising more than a dozen INGOs that their applications to register had been rejected. A day after authorities sealed the Islamabad offices of international aid group namely ‘Save the Children’, and ordered to leave the country, the then Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali had said: “Some international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Pakistan are working against the country, which are being backed by the United States, Israel and India.” Earlier, CIA and contractors’ personnel under diplomatic cover had been carrying arms in vehicles without numbers and visiting sensitive areas, after which the government had taken measures to stop their activities meant to destabilize Pakistan.