Probe ordered after woman wrongly declared dead

LHC directs authorities to restore salary, take action against petitioner's husband

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court has disposed of a petition filed by a woman whose Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) was cancelled after she was mistakenly declared dead, despite being alive.

Justice Raheel Kamran issued directions for an investigation and ordered the restoration of the woman's salary and official documentation, following confirmation by NADRA and police officials that the petitioner was, in fact, alive.

During proceedings, representatives from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and local police appeared before the court.

The petitioner's counsel informed the bench that a forged death certificate had been issued by the Municipal Committee Mureedkay and submitted to NADRA on June 12. Based on this certificate, her CNIC was cancelled.

The petitioner, an employee in the Medical Department of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), faced suspension of her salary due to the blocked Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).

Her counsel alleged that her estranged husband, upset over a dissolution of marriage suit, orchestrated the scheme by obtaining a fake death certificate to cause her financial and reputational harm.

Police officials confirmed that an FIR had been registered against the husband for the alleged forgery. NADRA representatives informed the court that the woman's CNIC had now been reinstated.

The Lahore Development Authority's (LDA) legal counsel also assured the court that the petitioner's salary would be resumed upon reactivation of her salary account.

Justice Kamran directed the opening of a new bank account for the petitioner and instructed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to process pending salary payments accordingly.

Additionally, he ordered the DIG (Investigation) to conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter and take appropriate legal action against those responsible for the fraudulent declaration.

The petition was subsequently disposed of.