Racket probe: NADRA man confesses to issuing illegal NICs

Shezad Baloch

An officer of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) confessed during an investigation that he issued hundreds of fake National Identity Cards (NICs) to illegal Afghan immigrants in Quetta upon producing fake documents.

A reference has been submitted against two more by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Balochistan, as the three officials remain in the police custody for interrogation.

According to a NAB spokesperson, NAB Balochistan had submitted a reference in court on Monday against Assistant Director Syed Muhammad Ali Agha, Assistant Director Registration Center Khanozai Rizwan Aftab and an employee Awais Parvez for issuing illegal cards. The former two were arrested on June 10th 2014 from main office of NADRA in Quetta while the third was arrested on September 4th 2014.

“The officers had issued hundreds of identity cards to Afghan refugees on fake signatures in return for large amounts of bribe,” NAB spokesperson said, adding that majority were issued to the Afghan nationals who had illegally entered Pakistan and had been residing in Quetta.

The accused Awais Parvez confessed to his offence on Monday and submitted a plea bargain under section 25 (b) NAO 1999. The court accepted his plea and sentenced the accused under section 15 NAO 1999.

According to Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani, more than 400,000 Afghan immigrants were residing illegally in Quetta, claiming it was a major factor for the deteriorating law and order situation.

Nationalist political parties have been resisting the presence of illegal Afghan immigrants.

According to another report, more than 12,000 cases of Afghans seeking Pakistani documents, including travel documents, are being investigated by a security agency.

Source: tribune