Islamabad: Pakistan has decided to verify its computerised national identity cards after it was left red-faced over the revelation that Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour was registered as a citizen under a false name. Mansour was targeted by drones operated by US special forces in Balochistan’s Noshki district on May 21 when he headed towards Quetta in a rented car.
Mansour had not only Pakistan’s computerised national identity card (CNIC) but also a valid passport with him. He had a fake name — Wali Muhmmad — on the documents.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan yesterday gave a 48-hour deadline to National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for a roadmap to launch a country-wide CNIC re-verification campaign of the entire population.
“NADRA has 48 hours for submitting a work plan with a set deadline for initiation of National Plan for Re-verification of CNICs across Pakistan,” Khan said after a meeting at NADRA. He said Pakistan should send a message that its CNIC are not easily available to anyone who is willing to pay for it.
“Being a responsible state we will ensure that the usage of CNIC by any alien is completely eliminated after this exercise,” he said in a statement.
Earlier, Khan in a media briefing this week accepted that NADRA was plagued with corruption and several officials have been removed or being prosecuted for issuing fake CNIC and passports.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) yesterday arrested Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Revenue Rafique Tareen on allegations of verifying and approving Mansour’s CNIC under the fake identity of Wali Muhammad. It is believed that already thousands of Afghan refugees have gained Pakistan’s citizenship through fake documents.
