Summary They were unanimous in their views that the crackdown against NGOs should be transparent.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – A majority of government and opposition lawmakers on Tuesday were unanimous in their views that the crackdown against NGOs in Pakistan should be transparent.
The government this month ordered as many as 18 international aid agencies to shut down operations and leave the country, accusing them of pursuing ‘an anti-state agenda’.
“Many NGOs working in Pakistan do not carry out their audit. This approach is against national interests,” said Tahira Aurangzeb, a lawmaker of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.
Former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) lawmaker Naz Baloch shared similar views but added aid groups working in national interests should be allowed to operate in the country.
Several lawmakers including Raja Pervaiz Ashraf (PPP) and Shahida Akhtar (Jamaat-e-Islami) voiced concern on the “suspicious agenda” of the NGOs, calling for immediate action.
Federal minister Murad Saeed said the interior minister could brief on recent government crackdown on NGOs.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Dr Ramesh Kumar said many aid groups had been involved in defaming the country.
