Pakistan does expel various foreign journalists or other missions but it could be the first time it has asked an entire charity org to wind up and move out. And I can trust the judgement of Pakistani officials only if they provide sufficient evidence which they havent.
In 2013 they expelled NY times’ journalist Declan Welsh who recently has rocked the boat of billionaire empire of Axact.
Pakistan orders Save the Children to leave country
A Pakistani security official stood guard at the charity’s office overnightPakistan has ordered the charity Save the Children to leave the country, with an official accusing the NGO of “anti-Pakistan” activities.
Police have sealed off their offices in Islamabad and foreign staff given 15 days to leave the country.
Save the Children said it “strongly objected” to the action.
Pakistan has previously linked the charity to the fake vaccination programme used by the CIA to track down Osama Bin Laden.
The charity has always denied being involved with the CIA or Pakistani doctor Shakil Afridi, who carried out the programme.
The Pakistani government has not given a formal announcement explaining the decision.
But one official told the AFP news agency: “Their activities were being monitored since a long time. They were doing something which was against Pakistan’s interest.”
Condemning the move, Save the Children said it was “raising our serious concerns at the highest levels”, adding that its workers were all Pakistani nationals.
It comes after the Pakistani government announced it was tightening the rules for NGOs, revoking several of their licences.
Re: Pakistan orders “Save the Children” to leave the country
I would agree that tangible evidence needs to be provided for such actions.
However, I do have skepticism about this organization. Apparently, they spend about 25 million pounds on Pakistan every year (highest amount in any country) but barely mention what they actually do in their annual reports. Is anyone here aware of tangible results from programmes initiated by Save the Children? (not UNICEF)
Re: Pakistan orders “Save the Children” to leave the country
I personally think local organization like Edhi and others are working selflessly then these foreign funded NGOs. These NGOs have agenda and they manipulate our legal and political system. Recent example is Justice of Peace Project, an organization defending and making fake proofs and birth certificate of Shafqat Hussain.
Re: Pakistan orders “Save the Children” to leave the country
Excellent decision!
Plenty of these NGOs’ are safe heavens for spies, anti state campaigns and money laundering activities. India alone has cancelled licences of over 4000 NGOs in June, and in April some 9000 licences were cancelled. So I hope likes of Asma Jahangir and Hamid Mir look at their darling India before throwing tantrums and using it as a pretext to malign Pakistan Army as usual.
One of the best decisions Gen. Raheel made early on his tenure was to ban NGO’s access to IDP camps, and I guess surprisingly very level of retaliation (MA) post Zarb e Azb is perhaps linked to that decision.
I hope they do crackdown on many more shady NGOs. Time for Islamabad NGO aunties to start looking for a proper day job.
Re: Pakistan orders “Save the Children” to leave the country
Good decision.
These NGO’s should be regulated and should be answerable to Govt about their funds and their spending. I have read about Save the Children that they spend tonz of money in Pakistan but how come we do not see that on ground. Where are they spending the money? Govt should make NGOs responsible to submit quarterly income (or funding) and spending statements along with their non-charity expenses (like places they rent, vehicles they give to their volunteers etc etc).
On side note, I hope regulation effort does not end in disaster like effort to regulate madarsas. I am strong advocate of regulating Madarsaas too.
Re: Pakistan orders “Save the Children” to leave the country
lmao. American’s threatened and Pakistani government budged.
Do you even need to doubt now that it was a CIA funded program since the United sTates Governement sought it fit to threaten pakistan over closure of one NGO??
Pathetic. Now NGO is calling shots and Pakistani GOVT is toothless. Kia mazaq lagaya howa hai. If all what Nisar said (couple of days ago) was right, then how come they are allowing NGO back? and if all of what Nisar said was a lie, then why is he not stepping down or being fired?
These are the people who taunt Mush for getting flatten’s on one call from Gen Paul and this is not even WAR.
Re: Pakistan orders “Save the Children” to leave the country
Thats why its very important to provide evidence when make an acusation and taking a big step like expelling someone. You can shut plenty of mouths. Remember seeing is believing.
