LAHORE: Jamaat e Islami (JI) Ameer Senator Sirajul Haq said that the government especially the Interior Minister Ch. Nisar Ali Khan, had taken a clear stance regarding the NGOs but had staged a retreat under the US pressure.
In a statement here n Monday, he said that the Interior Minister had banned the American NGO “Save the Children” for its anti state and suspicious activities besides attempts to change the country’s culture and way of life. However, the government had withdrawn its decision on a single US rebuke.
Sirajul Haq said that all the NGOs who were sincerely working for the welfare of the people and rendering commendable services in the fields of education and health were welcome. However, he said that certain bodies working under the garb NGO were involved in anti state activities and were giving shelter to enemy agents like Dr Shakil Afridi, and could not be allowed to function. Therefore, the government should take strict note of their pursuits.
The JI chief said that Pakistan was passing through difficult times and India was issuing threats every now and then. New Delhi was deadly opposed to the Pak China Economic Corridor and wanted to sabotage it.
He said that India’s designs were no more a sec ret and the statements from the Indian Foreign Minister and other officials against the Corridor project showed New Delhi’s mood. He said that Islamabad could not keep its eyes closed to developments in the region and at the world level.
He said the NGOs hand in the separation of East Pakistan was quite evident. Similarly, he said, the NGOs had played great role in the separation of East Timor from Indonesia and also South Sudan. He said that the government should not yield to foreign pressure in matters of national security.
Sirajul Haq further said that the NGOs should be allowed to function only in the areas where the government departments felt their need in the spheres of education and health, and they should not be allowed to enter the Tribal areas and other areas which were sensitive and where the armed forces were operating.
