ISLAMABAD – Registration of over 9,000 Non Government Organisationscancelled in Lahore over Financial Action Task Force demands.
According to the local media reportslink,registration of almost 9,000 non-government organizations (NGOs) working inLahore has been canceled.
The report stated that this step was taken in order to fulfill the demandof the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
According to Registrar Joint Stock Companies (RJSC) District OfficerMuhammad Azhar Hussain, around 12,000 NGOs were registered underRegistration of Societies Act 1860 out of which the registration of 9,000NGOs has been canceled and accounts of the NGOs have been frozen on theinstruction of Ministry of Interior.
Azhar Hussain stated that the registration of NGOs was canceled overnon-compliance with required law. The registration of said NGOs wascanceled over failing to provide audit reports, account details andinformation about the sources of funding to the relevant departments, headded.
Once an NGO is registered under the Registration of Societies Act 1860, noone can cancel the registration of an NGO, the scribe asked from the RJSCdistrict officer and said RJSC has no authority to freeze the accounts ofNGOs.
The district officer responded,
Under Registration of Societies Act 1860, we only have the authority toregister NGOs, but cannot cancel the registration of any NGO.
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However, on the instructions of the Ministry of Interior, we have canceledregistrations with help from allied laws and clauses. Those who canregister an NGO, can cancel the registration as well.
Answering a question, the district officials said that if someone thinksthat the cancelation of registration is unlawful, then he can plead to thejudiciary.
The report further said that some members of civil societies have shownconcern over the increasing number of cancelation of NGO registrations inthe country.
On 21 February, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), announced thatPakistan will remain on its list of jurisdictions under increasedmonitoring, along with 17 other countries, after failing to complete a June2018 action plan by the assigned deadlines.
Pakistan, which has been presenting its progress to FATF every four monthssince the agreement of the action plan, will remain on the list until June2020, when the next evaluation will take place.
