Following the recommendations of a parliamentary committee, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has temporarily unblocked 155,757 computerised national identity cards for 60 days out of 329,941 blocked by the authority. Director General NADRA Brigadier Nisar Ahmad Mir (retd) informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, which met with Senator Abdul Rehman Malik, about the recommendations of the parliamentary committee headed by Deputy Speaker National Assembly, saying the government has notified a mechanism for clearance of blocked CNICs.
On the recommendations of parliamentary committee, blocked CNICs have been divided into two categories: a) routine cases-the CNICs blocked by NADRA; and b) complex case - confirm aliens or the CNICs blocked on secret agencies' reports, he told.
Mir said the total number of routine cases is 155,757 while number of complex cases is 174,184. According to the notification, the NADRA will deal with the routine cases, and complex cases will be dealt by the district level committee, he said, adding that the NADRA has unblocked CNICs falling in the category of routine cases for 60 days and it would be permanently unblocked if the applicants provide one or more of the documents including; a) land record registered prior to 1978 (verified by the revenue department), b) local/domicile certificate issued prior to 1978 and verified by issuing authority, c) pedigree issued and verified by revenue department, d) government employment certificate (or of blood relative ), employed before 1990, e) verified education certificates (issued prior to 1978), f) passport issued to applicant prior to 1978) any other document issued by government of Pakistan prior to 1978 and verified by issued authority (including arm licence, driving licence or manual NIC issued prior to 1978 duly verified by record). If the document is being provided in the district where the applicant is residing then the NADRA will decide the case in six working days.
The official further said that the district level committee headed by deputy commissioner or political agent will deal with the complex cases. The members of district level committee will be district police officer, assistant director NADRA, representatives of ISI and IB. According to the notification, the MNA of respective district will monitor the progress of the committee; however, the responsibility of verification will be on the deputy commissioner or political agent, he said.
He said that the district level committee will decide verification status of blocked CNICs within 30 days. "Out of 174,184 complex cases or CNICs holders who have been declared confirmed aliens on the basis of secret agencies' report, 42,884 belong to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 40,548 belong to Sindh, 40,284 are from Punjab, 24,984 are from Balochistan, 2,013 belong to AJK, 7,203 are of FATA, 114 belong to Gilgit-Baltistan, 7,658 are from abroad and 6,553 belong to Islamabad," he elaborated. Senator Shahi Syed said issuance of CNICs to 174,184 aliens is an alarming sign.
Senator Dr Jehanzeb Jamaldini said 56 percent of Baloch population in Balochistan is unregistered due to which large part of Baloch population is not included in ongoing population census. He said that over four millions foreign nationals in Balochistan have become part of the system and some political parties are also supporting them. "Some of MPAs and MNAs are also involved in attesting blank CNIC forms," he added.
The committee also expressed displeasure for not including the senators in the parliamentary committee headed by the deputy speaker National Assembly.
Rehman Malik strongly condemned the unprovoked firing by Afghan forces across the Pak-Afghan border in which innocent people were killed and many other got injured. "This committee expresses great concern and anger over the act of violation by Afghanistan government and warns the government of Afghanistan to stop playing in the hands of Indian Prime Minister Modi," he said.
Malik further said that a superpower is present in Afghanistan so such unprovoked firing cannot be ignored as he sees a conspiracy behind ongoing violations across the border by Afghan security forces. He said that this committee demands the government to take up the issue of firing by Afghan forces with the UNO. He directed the Ministry of Interior to brief the committee about firing at Pak-Afghan border by Afghani forces and also brief the committee about border control management as to what steps the government has taken to stop such kind of brutalities in the future.
He praised safe recovery of PPPP's missing workers and appreciated the law enforcement agencies (LEAs); however, he directed the Ministry of Interior to share the details of the both abductees with the committee. Malik disclosed before the committee that he is continuously receiving death threats through calls and messages. He said he is being threatened to either refrain from statements against Taliban/Da'esh and remain silent over the issue of fake CNICs to Afghan nationals or get ready for the consequences as they are close to him.
The committee also recommended taking strict actions against those officials of the NADRA and other government departments who are found involved in issuance of CNICs to Afghan nationals.
Senator Shahi Syed suggested the death penalty for those officials who facilitate issuance of CNICs to non-nationals. Malik on behalf of the committee demanded the hanging of Ehsan Ullah Ehsan. He said that he was astonished that worst and brutal killer Ehsan Ullah Ehsan had no shame and remorse for his heinous crimes. He further directed that the committee should be briefed regarding Ehsan Ullah Ehsan in the next meeting. The meeting was also attended by Syed Tahir Hussian Mashhadi, Senator Muhammad Javed Abassi, Senator Chaudhary Tanvir Khan, Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Senator Mukhtiar Ahmed Dhamrah and Senator Shibli Faraz.