Pakistan Blocks Some 90000 Fake IDs of Terrorists, Criminals

Pakistan has blocked thousands of fake computerized national identity cards (CNICs), issued by National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), mostly to terrorists and criminals during the past five years.

Some 26 fake CNICs were issued by NADRA in 2011, 493 in 2012, 6,000 in 2013, 22,000 in 2014 and 64,000 this year, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was quoted as saying by Pakistani news daily, Express Tribune today.

"All of these cards had been blocked," he added.

"The   Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) after a comprehensive scrutiny as part of its counter-terror operations have submitted a report to NADRA," a spokesperson from NADRA said.

As per the report, several NADRA officials have been hand in glove with the terrorists and criminals in obtaining them fake identity cards.

The report further states that about 40 officials, which include retired army officers currently holding NADRA's Karachi office are also involved.

“All CNICs which were issued to foreigners as mentioned in the report were blocked as soon as we received it,” NADRA Spokesperson added.

The NADRA chairman has ordered a departmental inquiry against the officers accused in the report. The strict action would be taken against those found guilty, spokesperson added.

The scrutiny was carried out after the law enforcement agencies recovered Pakistani passports and computerized national identity cards (CNICs) in possession of a number of local and foreign terrorists they killed or apprehended.

ISI investigations revealed that the NADRA registration center in the Keamari area of Karachi had sold CNICs to Afghan and Bengali nationals for US$98 to US$196.51.

“There is credible information that NADRA offices in Lahore and Dera Ismail Khan province are also issuing CNICs to foreigners,” the report adds.