KALLAR SYEDAN, Pakistan: Minister for Interior Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan seeking cooperation of people in re-verification of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) process, on Saturday said that no one would be asked to come National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office for this purpose to save people from unnecessary botheration.
“The re-verification of CNICs is a national duty. I am committed that there can be no compromise on security of the country as well as nation and I would complete the task as earlier re-verification of mobile phone SIMs was also done through biometric system successfully,” he said while to the media persons at Kallar Syedan in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
The Minister said a mechanism was being developed to provide ease to people in the reverification of CNICs process and added only suspected CNICs holders would be called to NADRA office to clear their position.
Replying to a question, the Minister said there may be some flaws in the system but improvement has been made in recent years in NADRA. He said there is no place for corrupt persons in NADRA and added country suffers heavily if there is any corruption in such vital institutions.
Giving statistics related to CNIC that were cancelled on basis of security purposes ever since he assumed office as the Interior Minister, Nisar said in 2011 only 26 Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) were cancelled, 493 in 2012, 6062 in 2013, 22,361 in 2014, 96,689 in 2015 and 1,11,540 CNICs were cancelled during first five months of this year.
He said 614 employees of NADRA have been sacked upon their involvement in corruption while 65 were also arrested.
Similarly, he said during 2010-2012 only 361 passports were cancelled while figure of cancellation of passports during last two and half years was 29,000. During previous tenures, nobody was bothered and no concrete step was taken to curb such an illegal activity.
He said in first phase NADRA would send a family tree to 25 million head of the family, asking them to verify members of their families.
“It is a question of State and I will not refrain from any actions to safeguard its territories. We will carry out re-verification of all identity cards in a time-span of six months while two months will be given to those who have fake identity cards and passports to get them blocked,” he said.
Chaudhry Nisar said the re-verification of such a huge database of citizens seems difficult but when there is a commitment, nothing is impossible and added that earlier re-verification of mobile phone SIMs was also done through biometric system successfully.
The Minister said he has given two months for holders of fake national identity cards or passports or officials of NADRA and Passport Office who helped issue such documents to reveal information themselves.
He said if they voluntarily reveal or identify fake cards and passports, no action would be taken. Otherwise, legal action would be taken against holder of fake identity card or passport and he could get seven-year imprisonment and officials responsible for issuance of such cards or passports would get 14-year of imprisonment.
Nisar said a reward scheme is also being launched from this month under which those giving information about presence of foreigners with Pakistani identity card or passport would be rewarded Rs. 10,000 for authentic information of per person. A helpline is being established for the purpose, he added.
Source: APP
