“The public is suffering due to NADRA’s mistakes, and they are tampering with people’s records,” remarks Sindh High Court, directing immediate review of retired employee’s blocked identity card
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued a scathing rebuke to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for its alleged mishandling and tampering with citizens’ records, causing significant inconvenience and distress. The court’s criticism came in response to a petition filed by Muhammad Hussain, a retired employee whose national identity card was blocked, impacting his pension payments.
The petition was heard by a bench comprising Justice Salahuddin Panhwar and Justice Amjad Ali Sahito on Tuesday. The court ordered NADRA to review Muhammad Hussain’s records within 15 days and resolve the issue of his blocked identity card. The retired railway employee’s card was initially blocked in 2021 and then again in 2022, leading to halted pension payments and mounting frustration for Hussain.
NADRA contends that six individuals are listed in Hussain’s family tree, but Hussain, who has already submitted an affidavit clarifying that he does not know these individuals, disputes this claim. The continued blockage of his identity card has caused significant disruptions in his financial stability and well-being.
During the proceedings, Justice Amjad Ali Sahito expressed strong dissatisfaction with NADRA’s handling of the case, stating, “The public is suffering due to NADRA’s mistakes. They are tampering with people’s records themselves.” Justice Salahuddin Panhwar echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the broader impact of NADRA’s errors on countless individuals who are forced to navigate legal processes to address such issues.
Justice Sahito also highlighted a troubling statistic: 1.2 million passports had been returned from Saudi Arabia, prompting questions about NADRA’s oversight and management. He criticized the involvement of NADRA officials in record tampering, asserting, “How can a person from another family be included in someone’s family tree? No wrongdoing can occur without the consent of NADRA officials.”
The court underscored that Muhammad Hussain, as a retired employee and Pakistani citizen, should not be subjected to additional proof of his identity beyond what he has already provided. The SHC’s intervention reflects growing concerns about the integrity and reliability of NADRA’s record-keeping practices and the impact on citizens’ lives.
The decision underscores the need for NADRA to address systemic issues within its operations and to ensure that citizens’ records are managed with accuracy and integrity. The court’s ruling aims to provide immediate relief to Muhammad Hussain and serves as a broader call for reforms to prevent similar issues in the future.
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