BAHAWALNAGAR: Scores of identity card applicants of Haroonabad staged a procession on Friday in protest at the closure of National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) office for the last four days.

They said the office closure had delayed the issue of their computerised national identity cards (CNICs).

Nadra officials said they would not return to work unless a case registered against their nine officials was not withdrawn, and action was not taken against lawyers.

They alleged lawyer Nisar Tatla visited the Nadra office on Nov 25 and demanded the delivery of the CNIC of his relative. As per rules, only the holder can claim the CNIC, the lawyer insisted on getting the card and even created a scene.

During the lunch break, the lawyer along with his colleagues entered the Nadra office and made a mess again. They allegedly scuffled with the officials. After the row, both lawyers and Nadra officials approached the police and sought legal proceedings.

The Haroonabad City police registered a case against 21 lawyers, of them six nominated, on the complaint of Nadra officials. The lawyers got a court order on Nov 26 and got a case registered against nine Nadra officials, of them five are nominated.

Haroonabad lawyers also boycotted courts and took out a on procession on Nov 26 against Nadra officials and the Haroonabad police. Nadra officials hit back with the closure of the office on the same day and have not returned to work since then.

Nadra office in charge Ishfaq Qasim, also a nominated in the FIR, told Dawn the office would remain close till police take action against the lawyers. He said the lawyers nominated in the case were junior lawyers and their licences should be cancelled.

Bar president Azam Ali Athar held Nadra officials responsible for the incident and said they misbehaved with lawyer Tatla over a query about the CNIC.

The closure of the Nadra office perturbed the applicants who with residents and students took out the procession from the Nadra office to Fawara Chowk.

They demanded cancellation of the case against Nadra officials and opening of the office.

Police have yet to arrest any one in the cases.

Published in Dawn, November 29th , 2014