NGOs in KP concerned at

Foreign Contribution Bill

July 19, 2016
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PESHAWAR: Representatives of civil society organisations have voiced concern over

the proposed Foreign Contribution Bill that they termed a threat to human rights and
non-governmental organisations.
Speaking at a news conference held by KP Civil Society Network, a group of various
non-governmental organisations, at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, a civil
society activist Qamar Naseem said that the proposed legislation would be a threat
to the existence of small and medium-size organisations.
He demanded the authorities to annul the draft of the proposed bill and engage civil
society to explore the need and possibility of strengthening the existing laws,
regulatory and monitoring framework.
Qamar supported transparency and accountability by the state departments and civil
society actors. He stressed the need for engagement between relevant government
departments and civil society representatives in order to address concerns of both
sides.
He expressed concern over what he believed was targeting of civil society
organisations and intimidation of human rights defenders by federal government
officials. He emphasised on the positive contribution of independent, diverse and
pluralistic civil society to peace, security, sustainable development and human
rights.
Khurshid Bano, chairperson of the KP Working Women Labour Union, opposed the
legislation which she termed a tool to effect legitimate human rights activities
implemented by civil society in the country.
If the proposed bill was adopted, it would add to restrictive legislation for civil
society organisations, further shrinking the space for freedom of association in the
country, she added.Taimoor Kamal and Zar Ali Khan, chairman of the Fata
Commission of Human Rights, urged the government to review the proposed
legislation and pass any bill with proper consultations of relevant stakeholders.
The civil society representatives asked the government to implement the UN Human
Rights Council resolution that asks committing states to protect civil society space.