Blocked CNICs: PHC bars FIA, LEAs from taking action in Mohmand Agency

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court issued an injunction on Friday, restraining the FIA, Special Branch and other law-enforcement agencies from arresting or harassing tribesmen over their blocked CNICs.

The FIA has blocked the identity cards of as many as 4,351 Totakhel tribesmen of Mohmand Agency living near the country’s border alongside-Afghanistan border.

A division bench, headed by PHC Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel, served a notice to NADRA, seeking its reply within 14 days.

When the hearing began on the petition filed by Salam Darvesh and others through their counsel Ghulam Mohiuddin Malik, the bench was informed that the petitioners were citizens of Pakistan by birth.

Counsel for the petitioners argued that FIA and other law-enforcement agencies had blocked CNICs of thousands of people belonging to the petitioners’ tribe without any reason and proof.

Arguing that Totakhel tribe was a sub-tribe of Mohmand, the bench was informed that former governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah had declared a sub-division of Mohmand Agency and its residents were domicile holders of the Fata.

He said that their CNIC forms were duly attested by the political administration and the law enforcement agencies have declared them legal residents of Pakistan.

Malik argued that despite forms attestation by the political administration and provision of all proofs, their CNICs had been blocked. The petitioners’ counsel requested the bench to order NADRA to release their CNIC’s and restrain FIA and the special branch from taking action against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2016.