Convener of a subcommittee of Public Accounts Committee (PAC), MNA Noor Alam Khan has recommended the government not to issue computerised national identity cards (CNICs) without the approval of two top military spy agencies. He recommended this while chairing a meeting of the subcommittee of PAC, which met here to discuss the audit paras of the Ministry of Interior. He said National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) before issuing CNICs to the citizens must get clearance from the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence.
Noor Alam Khan who hails from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) while reviewing and discussing an audit para related to the Ministry of Interior of the year 2017-18, said over Rs 280 million financial losses were incurred to the national kitty as a result of 0.82 million passports, which were rejected due to printing and paper issues. He said keeping in view the previous experience, there is a need to get the security clearance by the ISI and MI before issuance of CNICs and passports.
Khan shared his personal experience with the committee and said due to negligence and corruption at the passport office and NADRA, Afghan citizens could easily procure CNIC and Pakistani passports in the past. He said these people are bringing disrepute for Pakistan while the organisations like Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Directorate General of Immigration and Passport are doing nothing. Subsequently, he suggested that the CNIC and passport should not be issued without the clearance of ISI and MI as the foreigners after obtaining Pakistani passport defame the intelligence agencies.
Secretary Interior Major Suleman Azam Khan (retd) while defending his ministry responded Khan to have faith on the institutions as these are also Pakistani institutions and are equally loyal to the country. He said that the ministry will hold an inquiry into this matter. Taking up another para related to the procurement of food items for South Waziristan Scouts, the committee asked Major Adnan as to why he did not provide relevant documents to the audit officials. The secretary interior informed him (Adnan) that the ministry intends to hold an inquiry in this matter.
The management of South Waziristan Scouts purchased fresh food items including vegetables, fruit and meat during 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 for Rs 397.2 million and Rs 414.8 million respectively. Audit observed that procurements were made without open competition. Major Adnan while representing the South Waziristan Scouts when tried to explain the situation, Khan said that he knows the state of affairs and how things are done.
Khan remarked when the prime minister and MNAs can face inquiries then why not the people related to security agencies can do so. He directed the ministry to submit an inquiry report before the subcommittee in this matter. Khan expressed displeasure over non-implementation of the PAC's directive regarding overcharging of Rs 23 in passport fee. As per audit para, the Ministry of Finance allowed Rs 2 as bank commission on collection of passport fee; however, National Bank of Pakistan started charging Rs 25 as commission on receipt of passport fee.
The PAC in December 2009 directed NBP to stop overcharging in the name of commission; however, the authorities have yet not complied with the directions. The convener committee directed the secretary interior to inquire this matter and fix responsibility on the officials concerned. The panel refused to get a reply from a junior officer of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Scouts on the matter of spending of Rs 6 million on 8 vehicles, saying only Director General of GB Scouts should come to respond the meeting regardless of his rank whether he is a Major General or Brigadier.