ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday said a deadline has been set to re-verify all Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) in six months.
“It is a question of state and I will not refrain from any actions to safeguard its territories. We will carry out re-verification of all identity cards in a time span of six months while two months will be given to those who have fake identity cards and passports to get them blocked,” he said.
Briefing the media persons after chairing a meeting with officials of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Immigration and Passport Office here, he said, the country is facing an emergency-like situation and adopting such measures are necessary to confirm identities of nationals.
Chaudhry Nisar said the re-verification of such a huge database of citizens seems difficult but when there is a commitment nothing is impossible and added that earlier re-verification of mobile phone SIMs was also done through biometric system successfully.
He said with a view to save people from unnecessary botheration, it has been decided to focus on 25 million families for verification of identity cards.
The Minister gave two months for holders of fake national identity cards or passports or officials of NADRA and Passport Office who helped issue such documents to reveal information themselves.
He said if they voluntarily reveal or identify fake cards and passports, no action would be taken. Otherwise, legal action would be taken against holder of fake identity card or passport and he could get seven year imprisonment and officials responsible for issuance of such cards or passports would get 14 years of imprisonment.
Nisar said a reward scheme is also being launched under which those giving information about presence of foreigners with Pakistani identity card or passport would be rewarded. A helpline is being established for the purpose, besides, another helpline to redress grievances of those who might have genuine grievances during the exercise for re-verification of national identity cards.
The Minister said NADRA has been directed not to block identity card of any citizen until and unless there is 90 percent evidence of some fraudulent activity surrounding issuance of such a card.
The Minister said a bipartisan Parliamentary Committee would be formed to oversee the entire process to ensure its transparency.
He said like NADRA, Directorate of Immigration and Passports is also being declared as essential service for six months to ensure smooth implementation of reform measures.
The Minister said the number of Director Generals (DGs) of NADRA has been reduced from existing 26 to 10 only.
Source: APP
