Nadra chief says action taken against 84 staff members.
Islamabad: The Chairman of the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra), Lieutenant General Munir Afsar, informed members of the Senate that some of his organization’s employees were involved in issuing counterfeit Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs). This revelation was reported by The News on Thursday.
During a session of the Senate Committee on Interior, which was chaired by Senator Mohsin Aziz, the Nadra chief disclosed this information while discussing the issue of fake CNICs, the unauthorized availability of citizens’ family data in the black market, and the issuance of multiple SIMs on a single CNIC, which are subsequently used in illegal activities.
General Afsar informed the lawmakers that his organization had taken action against employees engaged in any form of illegal activity, resulting in the suspension of approximately 84 officials thus far. However, he noted that these employees often escape punishment due to the absence of a law specifically addressing privacy matters, highlighting a legal gap.
The Senate panel recommended implementing modern measures to tackle these issues effectively.
In a separate development, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that, in collaboration with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circle, they had arrested five individuals involved in the illegal issuance of SIM cards. This arrest occurred at a mobile phone company franchisee situated on Kohat Road, Peshawar.
The PTA revealed that the suspects were responsible for distributing illegal SIMs using Afghan passports. It was reported that the franchisee was being operated by an Afghan national, and the activated SIM cards were being sold to Afghan nationals for a price of Rs. 3,000 each. Additionally, law enforcement authorities seized five laptops and eight mobile phones containing scanned passport data during the operation. This marked the 12th such raid of the year conducted by the PTA.
This action comes in the wake of a surge in terrorism incidents. Pakistan has set a deadline of November 1 for all illegal Afghan residents to return to their homeland. Sarfraz Bugti, the interim interior minister, stressed that the crackdown on illegal Afghan immigrants is imperative because Afghan nationals have been responsible for 14 out of 24 suicide bombings in Pakistan this year, and eight of the 11 militants involved in recent attacks on two Pakistani military installations were of Afghan origin.
Conclusion:
The issues surrounding the issuance of fake Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) in Pakistan by Nadra, the illegal distribution of SIM cards using Afghan passports, and the broader problem of illegal Afghan immigrants have raised significant concerns in the country. The Chairman of the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) revealed that some of the organization’s staff were involved in producing counterfeit CNICs, leading to the suspension of several officials. However, the absence of specific privacy laws has hindered the punishment of these individuals.
In response to these challenges, the Senate Committee on Interior has recommended implementing modern measures to address these issues more effectively. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has taken action against those involved in the illegal issuance of SIM cards, highlighting the importance of cracking down on such activities.
As Pakistan faces a surge in terrorism incidents, the government has set a November 1 deadline for illegal Afghan residents to return to their homeland. This move is prompted by the alarming statistics that show Afghan nationals have been responsible for a significant number of suicide bombings and attacks on military installations in Pakistan.
The situation remains complex, and addressing these issues will require a multi-faceted approach, including legal reforms, better monitoring and regulation of identity documents and SIM cards, and a comprehensive strategy to address illegal immigration from Afghanistan.
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