LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah Tuesday allowed functioning of another non-governmental organisation (NGO), Women in Struggle for Empowerment (WISE).
The chief justice restrained respondent authorities from taking coercive measures against the WISE and also summoned responsible officials from the Interior Ministry and Home Department on January 27.
The court was hearing a petition moved by Bushra Khaliq, executive director of the WISE, challenging a circular issued by the Punjab Industries, Commerce and Investment Department in light of recommendation of the Home Department.
The petitioner said that the authorities had directed the WISE to stop working after accusing it of being involved in objectionable and anti-state activities. She said, “The allegations made in the impugned circular were misleading and false, as the WISE had not violated any of the reasonable restrictions placed under the law and the constitution.”
She said that that the WISE was recently engaged in `Harassment Awareness Volunteer Programme’ in coordination with office of the Punjab Ombudsperson for effective implementation of Protection against Harassment of women at Workplace Act 2010. She claimed that the WISE was a peaceful organisation and it had utmost respect and regard for laws of the country.
She submitted that the WISE was inconceivable that training women to protect themselves against sexual harassment would be in any way detrimental to national security. She contended that the “impugned” orders asking the organisation to stop functioning were illegal and unjust, as no proper hearing was afforded to the petitioner.
She requested the court to set aside the impugned orders and allow the WISE to continue its functioning throughout the country.
