The Pakistan Civil Society Forum condemned the harassment to non government organisations (NGOs) by the Police authorities on the name of security and terrorism and demanded immediate stop to this untoward practice to curb the civil society. In a statement issued here on Saturday January 10, 2015, Mohammad Tahseen, Secretary General of the Pakistan Civil Society Forum said that Police has started visiting office of NGOs in Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa and interrogating them on their programs, activities and funds.
They are also enquiring about the staff and voluntary board members in a manner which will hamper the voluntary spirit of doing work for the betterment of society and will discourage efforts being undertaken for peace and democracy in Pakistan. "This is alarming and instead of targeting sectarian and other outfits involved in terrorism, the government is trying to equate those with NGOs and given free hands to law enforcing agencies to gag civil society", he added. He said that this is high time that the government should clearly spell out the organisations who are involved in preaching extremism and are involved in terrorist activities instead of harassing NGOs.
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