PESHAWAR: National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) deputy assistant director Palwasha Afridi has said that she has nothing to do with the issuance of Computerised National Identity Card to Afghan woman Sharbat Bibi.

“My name has wrongly been mentioned in media reports, holding me responsible for processing the registration form of the Afghan woman. Someone else was heading the Nadra’s Hayatabad centre at that time,” she told a press conference here on Thursday.

Ms Afridi rejected media reports about her termination for her involvement in issuing CNIC to Sharbat Bibi, a famous Afghan woman, and her two sons. She termed the reports completely baseless and unfounded.

“I was neither head of Nadra’s Hayatabad centre nor I was terminated from service,” she added.

The official said that Sharbat Bibi’s card was processed by then head of Nadra’s Hayatabad centre Mohsin Ihsan, who was currently working at income tax department. She said that Nadra authorities did not give official version to clear her position in the case owing to which she was left with the only option to personally clarify her position.

Showing Nadra’s verification data to media, Mr Afridi said that registration form of Sharbat Bibi was signed by Mohsin Ihsan as head of the centre. She said that Nadra high-ups should analyse the case impartially keeping in view the facts and database record.

She urged the chairman of Nadra to look into the case personally as officials of the Authority in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had so far failed to probe the matter.

The official demanded of Nadra chairman to take serious note of issuing CNIC to worldwide famous green-eyed Afghan woman Sharbat Bibi by constituting a high level inquiry committee immediately.

It is pertinent to mention here that issuance of CNIC by Nadra to thousands of Afghan nationals in general and Sharbat Bibi in particular is talk of the town these days but Nadra has so far failed to clarify its position.

It is stated that Nadra’s Hayatabad office had issued three CNICs on a single day last year to 46-year-old Sharbat Bibi, wife of Rehmat Gul, and her two sons -- Rauf Khan and Wali Khan. It was clear violation of the rules and regulations of Nadra.

Sharbat Bibi became famous as the ‘Afghan Girl’ when National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry captured her photograph at Nasir Bagh refugee camp situated on the edge of Peshawar in 1984.

She gained worldwide recognition when her image was featured on the cover of the June 1985 issue of National Geographic Magazine at a time when she was approximately 12-year-old.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2015

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