Unknown people turn up in records of 13,000 families in CNIC re-verification
Over 400,000 individuals have checked their family records since the re-verification drive was formally launched
Over 400,000 individuals have checked their family records since the re-verification drive was formally launched. PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The top citizen registration body has received over 13,000 complaints of inclusion of unknown members in families of Pakistani nationals since the launch of a CNIC re-verification drive on July 1.
Over 400,000 individuals have checked their family records since the re-verification drive was formally launched, according to statistics released on Monday by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Around 3.25% of these individuals have complained about the presence of aliens in their family trees.
SMS NADRA to get your CNIC, family tree re-verified
“NADRA has received over 13,000 complaints, where citizens have pointed out aliens in their family record,” said a NADRA statement issued.
A massive re-verification drive of nearly 25 million registered families of Pakistanis was launched under the pretext of national security after a Pakistani identity card and passport was found in possession of former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan on May 21.
Earlier, the country’s premier spy agency had also sent a report to NADRA, informing the authority about the recovery of Pakistani CNICs from several foreign terrorists associated with al Qaeda and Taliban who had been killed in counter-terrorism operations in areas bordering Afghanistan.
Later investigations unearthed more claims about foreigners managing to obtain Pakistani CNICs by bribing as low as Rs 10,000 to NADRA officers. The situation forced Pakistan’s interior ministry to re-verify the family records of all Pakistanis.
The citizens have been asked to simply send an SMS writing their CNIC number to 8008. In response, NADRA would inform about all the individuals registered in the family with the authorities.
A progress report since the launch of the drive was shared on Monday during a meeting held at the interior ministry on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
About one-third of the 13,000 complaints about unknown members were about confirmed aliens, NADRA representatives told the minister.
CNICs re-verification to start from July 1
More than 50 cases have been referred to NADRA’s Vigilance Cell for re-verification and further scrutiny.
Minister Nisar reiterated the CNIC re-verification was a national security drive aimed at cleansing NADRA’s database from all aliens who had managed to get themselves registered as Pakistanis. “No doubt it is a difficult task. But it is vital for ensuring the security of the state,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Privacy of the callers [individuals] should remain paramount during the drive since citizens will be disposing their national duty by providing information to the state institutions over aliens holding Pakistani CNICs and passports,” Nisar directed NADRA.
The interior minister also approved nationalisation of three Cessna planes and their inclusion in the interior ministry’s air wing strength for counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics operations.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2016.
The top citizen registration body has received over 13,000 complaints of inclusion of unknown members in families of Pakistani nationals since the launch of a CNIC re-verification drive on July 1.
Over 400,000 individuals have checked their family records since the re-verification drive was formally launched, according to statistics released on Monday by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
Around 3.25% of these individuals have complained about the presence of aliens in their family trees.
SMS NADRA to get your CNIC, family tree re-verified
“NADRA has received over 13,000 complaints, where citizens have pointed out aliens in their family record,” said a NADRA statement issued.
A massive re-verification drive of nearly 25 million registered families of Pakistanis was launched under the pretext of national security after a Pakistani identity card and passport was found in possession of former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who was killed in a US drone strike in Balochistan on May 21.
Earlier, the country’s premier spy agency had also sent a report to NADRA, informing the authority about the recovery of Pakistani CNICs from several foreign terrorists associated with al Qaeda and Taliban who had been killed in counter-terrorism operations in areas bordering Afghanistan.
Later investigations unearthed more claims about foreigners managing to obtain Pakistani CNICs by bribing as low as Rs 10,000 to NADRA officers. The situation forced Pakistan’s interior ministry to re-verify the family records of all Pakistanis.
The citizens have been asked to simply send an SMS writing their CNIC number to 8008. In response, NADRA would inform about all the individuals registered in the family with the authorities.
A progress report since the launch of the drive was shared on Monday during a meeting held at the interior ministry on Monday. The meeting was chaired by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.
About one-third of the 13,000 complaints about unknown members were about confirmed aliens, NADRA representatives told the minister.
CNICs re-verification to start from July 1
More than 50 cases have been referred to NADRA’s Vigilance Cell for re-verification and further scrutiny.
Minister Nisar reiterated the CNIC re-verification was a national security drive aimed at cleansing NADRA’s database from all aliens who had managed to get themselves registered as Pakistanis. “No doubt it is a difficult task. But it is vital for ensuring the security of the state,” he was quoted as saying in the statement.
“Privacy of the callers [individuals] should remain paramount during the drive since citizens will be disposing their national duty by providing information to the state institutions over aliens holding Pakistani CNICs and passports,” Nisar directed NADRA.
The interior minister also approved nationalisation of three Cessna planes and their inclusion in the interior ministry’s air wing strength for counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics operations.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 12th, 2016.