LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday restrained the Punjab government from taking coercive measures against civil society and non-governmental organizations in terms of their re-registration under Punjab Charities Act 2018.

The court also sought replies form the respondents in over a dozen civil society organizations and NGOs including Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Aurat Foundation, South Asia Partnership-Pakistan, Asma Jahangir (AGHS) Legal Aid and Women Rights Association.

The petitioners through Hina Jillani contended that the government or the lawmakers never consulted the civil society sector and organizations before the enactment of the legislation of the Act.

She pointed out that section 12 of the impugned law makes it mandatory for all charities to get them registered with the "Charities Commission" established under the Act.

She said the home department during July 2020 gave a deadline of August 15 for online registration with the commission but the department later circulated instructions to district administrations to coerce the registration process and some NGOs had received letters from social welfare officials.

She argued that the registration of "charities" had been arbitrarily determined and the requirement of notification under section 12 of the impugned Act had not been fulfilled.

Hina said, the registration process was not legally initiated and the time limit of August 15 intimated through a newspaper advertisement was without lawful authority and of no legal effect.

She said imposing a deadline during corona pandemic, when most offices of the NGOs were closed or working partially, was not justified.

She asked the court to restrain the respondents from enforcing the deadline for re-registration process and also suspend the operation of the impugned Act.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020