SHC orders NADRA to issue CNICs to family of Bengali origin

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) ordered the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) on Friday to issue Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to the members of a family of Bengali origin within a month.

A two-member bench, comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed, issued the directive while hearing a plea challenging the blocking of the family’s CNICs.

The petitioner had contended in the plea that NADRA had blocked his parents’ CNICs without giving a reason, adding that it had caused them inconvenience.

The plea moved the court to order the relevant authority to unblock their CNICs.

At the hearing, Justice Mazhar asked of NADRA deputy assistant director, “Why were the CNICs blocked?”

The deputy assistant director replied that the affected persons could visit NADRA’s office and their issue would be resolved.

“Citizens are inconvenienced [but] what have you been doing?” the court rebuked him.

The bench ordered the registration authority to issue the family’s CNICs within a month. 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2020.