Court irked over blocking CNIC of Bengali-Pakistani

A two-member bench of the Sindh High Court, headed by Sindh Chief Justice Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi, heard a petition about blocking the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) of a Pakistani citizen of erstwhile East Pakistan and ordered NADRA to review the documents and then take a decision accordingly.

The petitioner’s counsel submitted that Muhammad Saleem has a passport dated 1969, he is a Pakistani and not a Bengali. The rights of Bengali-Pakistanis were denied by blocking the CNICs.

NADRA’s lawyer, Samia Advocate, gave a stand and said that Saleem was issued a manual identity card in 1991. The applicant’s identity card has been blocked on suspicion. If he has documentary evidence from before 1971, NADRA can renew the ID card after verification.

Justice Abbasi was furious over the blocking of the national identity card of citizen Muhammad Saleem. The CJ remarked, "Are they being punished for supporting Pakistan? If they are denied rights, then put them on a water boat together and throw them into the sea."

The court sought a progress report on June 13.