It is quite ironic that at the same time that it has been exercising such strict control over non-religiously affiliated NGOs, that the government has been so lax in its oversight of the religiously affiliated NGOs -- specifically Islamic NGOs.

As a result, these entities have been given a virtual free pass, and have been able to run with only minimal governmental oversight and supervision.

There are 34 Islamic NGOs currently registered with the NGO bureau and funded from abroad. However, the oversight over these entities remains negligible. In addition, there are several hundred NGOs that are registered with the social welfare department, which has neither the resources nor the inclination to keep a tab on their activities. These NGOs are barely scrutinised, and little or no record of their activities is maintained.

Finally, there are countless NGOs and NGO-type entities that have no registration whatsoever, and thus no government oversight.

In effect, the administration has permitted such NGOs a virtual free hand. The result is that there is no accurate accounting done of much of the foreign funds that come into the country, or what is done with them, or what the operations of these NGOs are.

This is not to say that all the NGOs are suspect; for, there may be those that are doing a good Samaritan's job; but it is the rapid proliferation of religiously nomenclatured entities that makes one sit up and take note.

Let's not forget, the links between the more disreputably affiliated NGOs, some of which have been already outlawed by the government, and the militant organisations, no longer remain matters of hypothesis.

In light of recent events, now is the time for a comprehensive policy to regulate such NGOs. There is no justification for the fact that they are subject to less scrutiny than regular NGOs. This type of scrutiny should have been undertaken long ago. Better late than never.