ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) – National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Usman Mubeen revealed on Thursday that as many as 701,61 ‘fake’ computerised national identity cards (CNICs) were issued to foreigners.
Mubeen, during a briefing to the standing committee of Senate, said these cards were issued to the citizens of different countries including Iraq, Tanzania, Bangladesh and Sudan. As many as 372 NADRA officials have been removed over the issue, he added.
During the last year, at least 200 CNICs were issued to the citizens of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan from Lahore alone, he said.
Senator Talha Mehmood, head of the standing committee, ordered the chairman to thoroughly investigate the matter and take steps to avoid such incidents in future.
Mubeen assured the members of the committee that strict action would be taken against the culprits and new reforms would put an end to such crimes.
Meanwhile, the government has decided not to register more Afghan nationals with the National Database and Registration Authority. The United Nation’s refugees agency has also been informed about this decision. In all, 1,70,000 Afghan refugees have been reportedly registered with the NADRA.
Earlier, NADRA had blocked the CNICs issued unlawfully to the Nat Geo famed Afghan girl Sharbat Bibi and her sons.
