ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan suggested on Thursday that reports on the performance of all ministries should be laid before parliament.

Speaking in the National Assembly, he observed that criticism of the performance of various ministries by the house would help improve things and enhance public confidence in them.

He offered to brief the National Assembly on the performance of his own ministry to set the ball rolling, and called upon lawmakers to become the “eyes, ears and arms of the government”, and point out wrongdoing and corruption.

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He invited legislators to visit passport offices and other public departments under his ministry. “Legislators on both sides of the aisle should serve as ombudsmen and monitor any corrupt practices and bring them to my notice,” he said, assuring parliamentarians that immediate action would be taken on the basis of information shared by them.

Interior minister says he is ready to start the process by briefing the NA on the performance of his own ministry

Saying that various measures had been taken to fight corruption within his ministry, he lamented that corruption was deep-rooted in the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), which would take some time to eliminate.

He said that over 200 Nadra employees had been found involved in corruption and removed from service over the past year, while many others were behind bars.

He claimed that under the previous PPP government, over 20,000 Burmese citizens had been issued Pakistani passports in Saudi Arabia.

He also asserted that foreign nationals had been employed by Nadra on the recommendation of parliamentarians, adding that a list of their names would be sent in the form of a formal complaint to the Senate chairman and NA speaker.

VIP treatment

The minister claimed that the practice of sending cameras and biometric equipment to the residences of key functionaries such as the president, prime minister, interior minister and top politicians had been discontinued.

He told the house that a request received from the President House was politely refused and that after receiving a similar request from the Prime Minister’s House, he had taken the PM into confidence over the matter.

Chaudhry Nisar said a request to this effect was also received from Bilawal House, but they were also informed the practice had been discontinued.

He said that over the next year, nearly every district in the country would have a passport office.

He claimed that at least 100,000 fake ID cards had been blocked during the past year and action was being taken against those responsible.

Replying to points raised by various members, including Maulana Fazalur Rehman, Dr Nafeesa Shah, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Sahibzada Tariqullah, the minister suggested that a parliamentary committee be formed to oversee the process of blocking and unblocking CNICs.

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015