Save the Children Group Is Shut Down in Pakistan

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/12/world/asia/save-the-children-group-is-shut-down-in-pakistan.html

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani authorities on Thursday shut down the aid group Save the Children’s office in Islamabad and ordered its foreign staff members to leave the country within 15 days.

On Thursday evening, the police closed the group’s office. A contingent of police officers accompanied by a senior district official put a notice on the entrance that the building had been sealed.

The local news media, quoting government officials, reported that Save the Children had been involved in “anti-Pakistan” activities.

In a statement, Save the Children confirmed that the Pakistani police had closed down its office but said that the group “was not served any notice.” The statement added, “We strongly object to this action and are raising our serious concerns at the highest levels.”

Save the Children has faced intense scrutiny from Pakistani officials since the 2011 American raid that killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad. Weeks after the raid, Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani doctor, told Pakistani interrogators that the C.I.A. had recruited him through a senior official at Save the Children to help in the hunt for Bin Laden.

In 2012, the Pakistani authorities asked Save the Children to expel its foreign staff members. The group says, however, that it operates a completely Pakistani staff of 1,200 here.

Pakistani officials said interim permission for the group to operate in the country had run out May 15.

Since Mr. Afridi’s revelations, foreigners, especially those working with international groups, have faced greater scrutiny and surveillance from the Pakistani authorities, who are suspicious that aid work is being used as a cover for espionage.