THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has said Government is justified to question the operations of Marie Stopes-Zambia.

Reacting to Government's indefinite ban of Marie Stopes-Zambia from conducting abortion services, HRC spokesperson, Samuel Kasankha said in an interview yesterday that abortion being a human rights issue, the commission did not support the act unless it was life-threatening.

"As Human Rights Commission, we do not promote lawlessness," he said.

Mr Kasankha said if the allegations leveled against Marie Stopes-Zambia were indeed true, then Government's action was justified and that the commission would not support those that took the path of illegality.

He said the commission was aware that Government had engaged in discussions with Marie Stopes-Zambia and that it would be pleasing to learn that the story attributed to the American non-governmental organisation was proven to be erroneous.

Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) board chairperson, Beatrice Grillo said in another interview yesterday that NGOCC was scheduled to meet the Marie Stopes-Zambia management over the weekend to ascertain the allegations levelled against it of having carried out 535 abortions in the two provinces.

Ms Grillo said NGOCC was avoiding issuing comments to the media before verifying the matter with the American-based NGO.

"We have arranged to meet the Marie Stopes management over the weekend to hear their side of the story because we have just been hearing about it from the media," she said.

On Wednesday, Health Minister, Joseph Kasonde indefinitely banned Marie Stopes-Zambia from conducting abortion services for breaching the Pregnancy and Abortions Act of 1972.