ISLAMABAD: A massive civil suit worth Rs10 billion was filed against Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan by the National Database and Registration Authority, for ‘damaging the credibility’ of the organisation.
The suit, filed by plaintiff NADRA in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), identified Nisar as well as the Punjab chief secretary and station house officer (SHO) of the Civil Lines Police Station as respondents. The plaintiff contended that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nisar had seriously damaged the reputation of NADRA through various “false allegations on different occasions”.
The allegations
The accusations made by Nisar include blaming NADRA officials of preparing fake identity cards for employees of Bahria Town housing society, developed by real estate tycoon Malik Riaz. The housing scheme lies within NA-52 in Rawalpindi, which is considered PML-N’s home constituency.
On these identity cards, temporary addresses of settlers living in NA-52 were changed, so that they appeared to be permanent residents of the constituency. Allegedly, this was meant to influence the next general elections by making ‘permanent’ residents voters in NA-52. Riaz earlier accused the opposition leader of using the police to pressurise him into extending political support to him.
NADRA’s side of the story
According to the lawsuit, NADRA maintains that in February, the management of the housing scheme requested the authority to establish mobile registration vehicles (MRVs) for the registration of their employees in Rawalpindi, and NADRA established three of these MRVs on their request.
NADRA also alleged that while some of their officials worked in Bahria Town in March, their MRVs were attacked by people and they were arrested by police on the behest of Nisar.
The plaintiff further maintained that during a period of one month, as many as 3,904 applications were received by NADRA while making CNICs in the locality. On March 8, however, a legal notice was served to NADRA Chairman Arshad Ali Hakeem stating that this was illegal practice and NADRA officials, “at the behest of certain elements” were issuing fake identity cards in NA-52.
“This allegation has damaged the reputation of NADRA,’’ the plaintiff’s lawyer maintained. The suit also stated that Nisar’s charges maligned the reputation of the organisation without any evidence.
Justice Riaz Ahmed Khan is to take up the case today (Tuesday).
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2011.
COMMENTS (13)
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Ch Nisar and some other politicion like him always make problems for those who r working for the country with honesty even this person always criticised the pak army so he must think before he say anything to anyone.
Dose he knows about ali arshad hakeem and his family, dose he know his performance and services for the country, he dosnt know anything i am sure if he knows he wouldnt say anything. nadra has become number one institute of the country under leadership of Ali Arshad Hakeem, we wish all head of the departments of pakistan had leader like Ali Arshad.
donot criticise on him and never dought on his honesty and loyality.
Malik Riaz is one of the tycon in real estate business in pakistan dose ch nisar knows how did he become. i will tell him how? he is the man who give his money to deserve and poor people of pakistan and also three time a day food distributed to hungry peoples, what i understand this is the only reason he become. ch sb spent from ur pocket not from govt funds.
Chaudry Nisar old stalwart of establishment head on with establishments Malik Riaz, lets see who wins, last time Nisar fled the country and people thought he left the party , as there were rumors he wanted to put his hands on Mighty Malik Riaz, but there were differences within his party on the issue.
@ Imran, million rupees is now thing of past. Whenever we see million, its wrongly printed.
Rupees 10 million is just a crore. Not a big amount for a lawsuit.
Nadra Chairman Mr. Ali Arshad Hakeem is a dedicated and honest person.
I don’t understand as why Ch. Nisar Ali Khan has made a baseless allegation against Mr. Ali Arshad Khan when he is fully devoted towards his job with honesty and dignity.
Nisar, you must behave yourself. If you are the leader of opposition leader this does not mean that you can put any one under your thumb.
Either you pay the damages of Rs. 10 billion to Mr. Ali Arshad Hakeem or submit a written apology to him and simultaneously release the same to the press and electronic media.
NADRA head has no right to file a suit because NADRA is a public institution. If Ch Nisar had damaged the reputation of Ali Arshad Hakeem for his personal behaviour then he could filed a defamatory suit against Chaudhry. It seems that Mr Hakeem is just trying to please the government.
10 billion...not 10 million!!!
10 million or 10 billion? The caption of the picture and the news text contradict!
Chaudhry Nisar. Does opposition have any criteria to blame on opposition ?
The Courts need to take stern action against those who make baseless allegations. In our country, anybody is free to say anything against anybody. This must end. If there is wrongdoing, the responsible people must be taken to task. But mudslinging must end. No doubt, there is rampant corruption in our society. Malpractice may almost be a norm. But some accusations are really wild and have a depressing effect on the nation as a whole.