Pak. NGOs' concern over hate campaign

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 9. NGOs in Pakistan are concerned over the systematic hate campaign against them in recent weeks by the religious parties and the military government's silence at the outbursts from the right-wing elements.

In a no-holds-barred campaign against the NGOs, the Milli Yakjethi Council (MYC), an umbrella organisation of the religious outfits - the Jamaat Ulema Islami and Jamaat Ulema-e- Pakistan - has asked the Musharraf Government to either ``control'' the NGOs or face the consequences.

The NGOs have been accused of indulging in ``anti- Islamic'' activities and working on the script of unnamed foreign powers. The charge against them is that they are working on an agenda to create a rift among the Muslims and minorities to pave the way for ``outside intervention''.

The Jamaat Ulema Islami chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, told a gathering in Karachi on Saturday that the aim of most NGOs was to tarnish the image of religious organisations in the country.

Last week the Jamaat Ulema-e-Pakistan chief, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani, at a meeting with the Chief Executive, General Pervez Musharraf, stressed the need to keep a close watch on the activities of the NGOs. The Government has been asked to investigate their sources of funding.

The tone and tenor of attacks by the right-wing elements has been so strong that the former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Ms. Asma Jehangir, deemed it necessary to issue a press statement against it. She said every known NGO in the country had been under constant scrutiny of all governments.

A few days ago a group of NGOs and social activists gathered here to take stock of the situation arising out of the vituperative statements by leaders of religious groups. At the end of their deliberations they adopted a communique asking the Government to check reckless propaganda against them. The plea has so far has not elicited any response.

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Section  : International
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