The Lahore High Court Chief Justice allowed South Asia Partnership - Pakistan (SAP-PK) to continue its activities in different districts. The court issuing notices to the interior ministry and the Punjab home department for January 27 ordered that no coercive measure be taken against the staff of the SAP-PK. Appearing before the court, Asma Jahangir submitted that SAP-PK is a non-profit Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) established for charitable, educational and development purposes.
It has been performing these duties for the past 27 years since 1989 within constitutional limits. She said the SAP-PK has a board of directors who are eminent people and set the policy of the society and the executive director is mandated to implement the policy through the guidelines laid down by the board. At the regional level, SAP-PK employs a district program co-ordinator in different districts of the province. Its activities are transparent and open to the extent that SAP-PK has invariably invited government functionaries to attend its events so that there is greater engagement between civil society and the government.
On behalf of petitioner Muhammad Tahseen, executive director of SAP-PK, Asma submitted that DPCs of Nankana Sahib, Layyah, Bahawalpur and Bhakkar recently received letters from respondent Social Welfare and Baitul Maal directing them to stop all its activities with immediate effect, to close its offices and suspend its operations throughout the country. She said these orders have been issued on directions of the Ministry of Interior and Punjab Home Department.
The NGO prepared a shadow report for sharing with the UN Human Rights Commission which presented a very black picture of Human Rights situation in Pakistan targeting directly the measures taken in context of NAP and Operation Zarb-e-Azb. She said this letter is misleading and illegal. Firstly, the allegation made against SAP-PK of producing a shadow report for the UN is incorrect and false, and secondly, even if such report was to be made, it is within the right of any organisation or individual to do so.