350 prisoners’ data sent for CNICs

LAHORE: Jail authorities have provided data of 350 inmates in Punjab to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for verification and issuance of computerised national identity cards (CNIC).

A few days back, a shocking revelation had been made that only 6,360 prisoners out of the total 45,000 in the province had their record and CNICs available with the authorities.

The Punjab prisons inspector general wrote a letter to the regional deputy IGs of prisons and the superintendents of all jails in the province to take steps for issuance of CNICs to such prisoners.

It read, “This inspectorate has recently collected data from field formations which show only 6,360 prisoners possessed CNICs in all jails of Punjab.” The about 40,000 prisoners without CNICs and record included those charged with terrorism and other heinous crimes like extortion, abduction and rape.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2020.