December 14, 2007	Friday	Zilhaj 3, 1428

LANDI KOTAL, Dec 13: Local people are facing problems in getting computerised national identity cards (CNICs) since the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) closed it office in Landi Kotal on Dec 7 following complaints of forgery against its staffers.

Sources said here on Wednesday that the political authorities had asked the Nadra office to investigate complaints of forgery and issuing identity cards to Afghan national against its staffers, but the authority closed the office.

The sources said that at least 56 cases of photo change had surfaced.

Last week, Nadra officials visited Landi Kotal to shift equipment from the office but local people held a protest and informed the political authorities who stopped the shifting of the equipment, sealed the office and deployed security personnel to guard the building.

Nadra sources said the office issued 40 to 50 tokens every day for the issuance of identity cards and it generated its own revenue.

The sources said that at least 1,500 cards were ready but they had not been distributed because of the closure of the office. About 400 cases were also pending at the office, they said.

Local tribesmen said that the closure of the office had created problems for the people of remote areas as they had to go to Peshawar to submit their applications. The condition of presenting CNICs for casting votes in the coming elections had also worried people who had submitted applications or intended to do so, they said.

The office catered to the needs of about 130,000 people.

Local Nadra officials said the reason for the closure of the office was unclear as the Nadra office in Orakzai Agency was still operating.

They urged the government to investigate the charges and direct the authority to reopen the office.