Ministry urged to table PML-N govt’s policy to federal cabinet

ZAHEER ABBASI

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Interior has been asked to present the policy devised by the previous government on mechanism for regulating international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) to the federal cabinet for approval.

A meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights presided over by Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar on Monday was given a briefing on the policy to regulate the INGOs. The committee was of the view that since the definition of the federal government has been changed as a result of a ruling of the Supreme Court in 2016, decisions on important policy matters should now be taken by the cabinet for seeking opinion on the policy. The meeting noted that prior to the apex court’s ruling, concerned ministries were authorised to take decisions on such matters.

Additional Secretary Interior Muhammad Sadiq rejected the perception that INGOs have been disallowed to operate in the country, and stated there is no restriction on INGOs for working in socio-economic sectors but some of the organisations were involved in suspect activities by going beyond their mandate which led to cancellation of their registration.