NADRA granted time on petition for prisoners' biometric verification

SHC dismisses plea against Shikarpur delimitation

KARACHI: On a petition calling for the biometric verification of prison inmates, the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday granted time till August 23 to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to submit reply.

The matter was heard by a division bench. A counsel for the petitioner, Shagufta Burney, argued that the case had been pending since 2013. He maintained the biometric verification of prisoners was necessary as the practice of incarcerating people having names similar to those of suspects or convicts was continuing in exchange of bribe, due to which many innocent people were imprisoned.

Investigations have revealed that 41 inmates in provincial jails were incarcerated to replace like-named suspects, the SHC was informed. The counsel recalled that the SHC had given a verdict in 2015, in which it ordered the jail authorities to ensure the attendance of prisoners through biometric system.

Agreeing to the petitioner's counsel, Justice Abdul Rasool Memon observed that biometric verification of the prison inmates was a necessity.



The home secretary informed the bench that biometric system for attendance had been installed in various prisons in the province, including Karachi Central Prison, Malir Jail and Hyderabad Jail. He, however, alleged that the process had not been completed because NADRA officials were not cooperating.

Support from NADRA was indispensable to ensure the identification of inmates, the home secretary maintained.

Meanwhile, NADRA representatives requested the SHC to grant time to the authority to submit its reply and clarify its position on the matter. Approving the request, the SHC adjourned the hearing till August 23.

Shikarpur delimitation

The SHC also dismissed a petition challenging the delimitation of constituencies in Shikarpur district. Rejecting the position taken in the petition, a two-member SHC bench declared it unfit for further consideration.

The petition had been filed by Dr Ibrahim Jatoi, who had maintained that the Election Commission of Pakistan had included areas falling under PS-7 in PS-9. The petitioner pleaded that the new delimitations were not justifiable and, thus, they should be annulled by the court.