A severe punishment is necessary to serve as deterrence against committing such anti-state activities.
LAHORE: Press reports stating that NADRA has become a source for issuing fake identification documents are very disturbing. The operations of NADRA impact our national security directly. Every country compiles a database of their nationals to prevent aliens and terrorists from assuming fake identities for ulterior motives. Billions have been invested in NADRA in order to ensure that it runs efficiently with the help of the services of professionally qualified information technology specialists, instead of being reduced to yet another institution that is only there to ensure the welfare of retired officers of our uniformed services.
If reports about the issuing of fake identification documents are indeed true, then those involved have not only compromised our national security, but also the credibility of our passports and national identity cards (NIC) internationally. The fact that such a lapse was not exposed by the security within the system shows that things are seriously wrong within NADRA and our investigative agencies. Mere denials by officials will not serve any purpose and neither will suspensions of those involved in this racket. A severe punishment is necessary to serve as deterrence against committing such anti-state activities.
Malik Tariq Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, July 25th, 2012.
