The management of National Database & Registration Authority, NADRA has foiled 11,396 attempts of obtaining computerized identity cards (CNIC) by confirmed aliens, the applications are blocked permanently and cases are marked as fraud, this was stated by spokesman Nadra clarifying exaggerated figure by a section of press in this regard.
Referring to some news reports regarding 25000 CNIC issued to aliens the spokesman said that in 2008 the management of NADRA on its own initiative had started taking stern actions against aliens and had started making a list of suspected aliens who had their computerized cards made through fraudulent means.
He said that in 2005 NADRA had acquired Biometric technology which helped in big way to detect theses aliens whose cards have either been blocked or marked as fraud so that they cannot be used in any circumstances.
Moreover the spokesman said that NADRA is working on zero tolerance policy and any staff member regardless of the position is dealt with ruthlessly if found involved in illegal activities or in connivance with alien registration process.
The spokesman said that National Alien Registration Authority (NARA) is registering aliens in Pakistan; however, NADRA has also created a biometric alien watch list which consists of photographs and fingerprints of Afghans as well as other illegal immigrants. Each CNIC gets issued only after passing through this watch list and any match gets blocked as ‘Confirmed Alien’.
He said that NADRA has adopted strict measures to ensure national database authenticity which includes documentary proof of applicants’ residence and citizenship, family roots in Pakistan, attestation of particulars and confirmation of nationality by public representatives and cross-referencing Manual Registration System and Census-1998 data set.
He said NADRA has also identified over 12,074 cases where aliens succeeded in obtaining ID cards when the biometric systems were not available with NADRA. These cards have been cancelled.
hese confirmed aliens include 2491 in NWFP, 241 in FATA, 1079 in Punjab, 6609 in Sindh, 1490 in Balochistan, 113 in ICT, 6 in Gilgit / Baltistan and 45 in AJK.
The spokesman further elaborated the process of ‘BLOCKING’ and ‘CANCELLATION’ of card. There is a difference between two processes. A card is blocked on a suspicion of other nationality and marked as suspect in database. After extreme ground verification if it is proved that the suspect is not Pakistani, only then he is marked in ‘Confirmed Alien List’ resulting his card in cancellation.
