TAXILA: Hundreds of computerised national identity cards (CNICs) were stolen under mysterious circumstances from the Nadra swift centre at Wah Cantt on Sunday.

The centre, which is located in a high security zone, offers services to the residents of Taxila, Wah Cantonment and adjourning areas.

The police said a security guard of the centre went to a nearby hotel for lunch and after returning found the main door of the centre opened and the CNICs missing. The police said there were no CCTV cameras installed at the centre due to which the investigation into the case could not be expedited.

Also read: Thousands of Pakistani NICs issued to foreigners in Balochistan

Investigating officer Mudassir Abbas told mediapersons that a police mobile forensic laboratory had been called from Rawalpindi to collect evidence and fingerprints from the centre to trace the culprits.

In reply to a question, he said the in-charge of the swift centre was in his native town of Sargodha, so the exact number of the stolen CNICs could not be ascertained.

It may be mentioned that Rs0.15 were stolen from the same centre in February 2013 but the police as well as the Nadra officials have so far failed to get any clue to the thieves.

Published in Dawn January 19th , 2015

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