Authorities in Punjab have ordered several women's and human rights groups to shut down, accusing them of unspecified "anti-state" activities, an official of a human rights group said. Govt has toughened its stance against local and international non-government bodies in recent years, accusing some of using their work as a cover for espionage. In 2015, it ordered Save the Children expelled but reversed the decision.
"They are shutting up people by harassment," I.A. Rehman, an official of the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, told Reuters on Thursday. Police and security officials have ordered about a dozen non-government organisations (NGOs) to halt operations, mostly in southern Punjab, Rehman added, with groups working on women's and human rights appearing to be the main targets.
"The provincial government has given orders to district police offices that so-and-so organisation has been indulging in anti-state activities, so ban this organization," he said.
Punjab's home minister, Rana Sanaullah, did not respond to written queries about the orders. However, small community of liberal groups is worried about a new crackdown on anyone seen as criticising the government, as concern grows over five liberal writers and activists who went missing this month. The government denies any role in the disappearances.
Two officials of non-government bodies in Punjab told Reuters police had ordered their employees to halt work. "Yesterday, the police went to one of my colleagues in Bahawalpur and asked him to shut our office over there," said Mohammad Tehseen, director of South Asia Partnership Pakistan, which focuses on women's rights.