Pakistan

NADRA official denies processing CNIC to NatGeo 'Afghan Girl'

KP's deputy assistant director says she has been wrongfully accused in case; denies being terminated by NADRA

Asad Zia February 26, 2015

An image of Sharbat Bibi holding the cover she was featured in June 1985. PHOTO: STEVE MCCURRY

PESHAWAR: A NADRA official on Thursday denied news regarding her termination for processing a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to Sharbat Bibi, famously known as the 'Afghan Girl', and her two sons.

“I was neither in charge of that center, nor performing my duty at that office wherein Sharbat Bibi’s card was processed,” said NADRA's Deputy Assistant Director Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Palwasha Afridi at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club.

Sharbat Bibi was first photographed in 1984 by National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp, situated on the edge of Peshawar.

Read: National Geographic's 'Afghan Girl' issued Pakistani identity card

She was approximately 12 years old at that time the photograph was taken. The photo has been likened with Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa. National Geographic also made a short documentary about her life and dubbed her the ‘Mona Lisa of Afghan war’.

Afridi said Mohsin Ihsan, and ex-employee of Nadra, was in charge at the time and his signatures are also clearly present on the form. “Nadra unfortunately [remained silent] about the false news of my termination, and did not say anything despite knowing the facts,” she lamented.

“The scanned image of the form clearly states the date and time of application and signature of the in-charge of that office. No signature can be traced back to me, and no evidence narrates my presence and accusations,” said Afridi.

Read: Fraudulent CNIC: FIA probing NatGeo’s Afghan girl

She appealed to the Nadra chairman to take notice of the issue and form an inquiry committee to expose the persons involved, as the K-P NADRA authority had failed in this regard.

She added that the chairman himself was a technical expert authority and could scrutinise the log information for cross-examination and details of the responsible in charge. Afridi said she had sufficient evidence for removing the spot defamation from her professional career and performance.

Read: NADRA suspends Hayatabad centre official as it investigates CNIC issued to Nat Geo's 'Afghan Girl'

“I will go to the last extent to seek justice and integrity. And if the blame is not removed, I will also appeal to the chief justice of Pakistan for this act,” she said.

COMMENTS (7)

zaman | 9 years ago | Reply @Karachiwala: The Brown Babu Sahibs are the fellows that have taken the place our Colonial Masters, the ones that might look down upon you as a lesser mortal, in all I was inferring corruption, nepotism and bribery, however even when obtaining services in the right way requires the donation of "chai money". YES, along with the NAP we also need to cleanse all the institutions of the useless Babu Sahibs. NB: I also doubt if there is any ACTION in the somewhat sleeping NAP. NB: To our Colonial Masters we all looked the same (inferior and brown). MANY THANKS

Karachiwala | 9 years ago | Reply Its Either you all (commentors above) don't understand the news or I do not comprehand your logic. @ashraf Pakistan is not pushing anything. Something is called "fraud investigation" and that is what happening. since Govt has spent so much in NADRA, we need answers! @zaman its not about letting her to retain Pakistani citizenship any more, she can apply for that through LEGAL way. its about the Bribery, fraud involve in this case. And i am amazed at you Brown Babu Sahib Theory.. how you get to know that Brown Colored babu is involved in this? how many brown babu are there in nadra? isn't it happened in Peshawar, where so called Pure race of Pathans lives. @Dr Khalid Let it be any other Country..but not Pakistan. We already have so much FAME through Afghanistan in Past 4 Decades. @MJ you are right, Karachi is the Largest city for Pakhtoons and in particularly Afghan Nationals. The number of Pakhtuns lives in Karachi surpass Peshawar, Kabul, Qetta, Kandhar. BUT People of Pakistan, who pay taxes, paid so much in NADRA system, we need answer.