Nadra official rejects involvement in issuing CNIC to 'Afghan Girl'

PESHAWAR: National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) official Palwasha Afridi on Thursday rejected her involvement in issuing Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to famed Afghan woman Sharbat Bibi and two men who are said to be her sons, and demanded a proper inquiry into the matter.

Holding a press conference, Assistant Deputy Director Palwasha Afridi said her involvement in processing the CNICs to Sharbat Bibi and her two sons was falsely reported and circulated in the media.

Know more: Pakistan issues CNIC to Nat Geo's famed 'Afghan Girl'

"I wasn't in-charge of that Nadra registration centre [Hayatabad office],” she said, adding that despite knowing the facts, Nadra authorities had remained silent on the issue.

The Nadra data form clearly states the time, date of application and signature of the person in-charge. "No signature and Nadra system ID was tracked back to me," Afridi explained.

She said the ID and signature had been traced to Mohsin Ahsan, who had quit the job a while ago. However, Afridi did not disclose details of the investigation conducted into the matter.

She alleged that the authorities had failed to carry out a proper investigation into the matter.

Afridi also demanded of the Nadra chairman Usman Yusuf Mobeen to personally investigate the matter in order to fix responsibility.

Also read: Four Nadra officials suspended for issuing CNIC to McCurry's 'Afghan Girl'

After coming under fire for issuing CNICs to Sharbat Bibi and her alleged sons, Nadra on Wednesday suspended four officials stationed at its Hayatabad office, a source in the agency said.

The suspended persons played an active role in issuing the CNICs to the said persons. The official said Nadra also blocked the CNICs of Sharbat Bibi and the two men who are said to be her sons.

In 1984, Sharbat moved to Peshawar along with her two sons and since then, she has been residing in the Nasir Bagh camp established for Afghan refugees.

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Comments (23) Closed

khan

Feb 26, 2015 05:55pm

This came to light only because Shabat Bibi was once photographed for an international magazine and she was searched again by the same people. There are hundreds of thousands such cases in every city of Pakistan. If proper investigation is carried out the findings will be eye opener. Take two cities as a sample, Karachi and Peshawar.

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Mark

Feb 26, 2015 05:57pm

Either send all Afghan people back or regularize their stay in Pakistan. They are living in Pakistan for more then 30 years. They have families and they integrated in Pakistani culture. Only people who have criminal background should not be regularize . Pakistan is taking huge money from world in the name of Afghan refugees and spending nothing on them. They can't stay like refugees forever. Either send them back or regularize them case by case. They are poor people and needs to be treated fairly.

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umer salahuddin

Feb 26, 2015 06:05pm

I do not understand why the officials who were working at NADRA when the I'd card were issued are made responsible but the current officials. A simple eye wash is not needed but actual facts should be made public. It seems that some senior officials are involved and they succeeded to find some scape goats to clear themselves in shape of current officials. A high level inquiry is required. There are definitely more such cases where non Pakistanis are issued ID cards.

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khan

Feb 26, 2015 06:08pm

I belong to charsaada, and the time when Aftab sherpao was interior minister NADRA mobile team came to afghan refuge village in charsadda, and make the ID cards for them, i can even name them if they want. the most prominent afghani over there is called amir gull kochay.

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Naseem

Feb 26, 2015 06:26pm

Why has no one commented!!

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Khizr

Feb 26, 2015 06:33pm

This is miserable. The officer had to conduct a press conference to give out details! NADRA chairman was sacked last January due to political reasons. Last year NA-118 recounting and thumb impressions checking was called and that led to Tariq Malik's dismissal since the results were going to be against the current government. This institute needs to be left alone from political appointments. It manages the critical infrastructure on which all other systems of the country are dependent on. We need the integrity of this institution restored.

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Omar

Feb 26, 2015 07:17pm

Government should continue to upgrade the NADRA system to increase security features and prevent fraud. In the case of Sharbat Bibi, she and her family should be given Pakistani citizenship as should anyone else born in the country. They are Pakistani! We need to have people registered and not stuck in an undocumented state!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Feb 26, 2015 07:54pm

What a serious joke?

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fool

Feb 26, 2015 07:55pm

It is normal routine in govt departments to penalize scapegoats and save the real culprits.

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anees from zaida

Feb 26, 2015 07:57pm

While there is so much noise about this, I have a question: ... Is this the ONLY case of an Afghan getting a CNIC? Aren't there thousands others?

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Jaowapis

Feb 26, 2015 08:45pm

Afghans go back to your own country

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Omar Sadiq

Feb 26, 2015 08:45pm

so is she saying that each office has its own Assistant Deputy Director??? No, a Assistant Deputy Director is for the whole organization and as such the blame lies on her and her higher ups.

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Ahmed Soomar

Feb 26, 2015 08:49pm

In Pakistan it is easy to make any fake documents, education certificates, domicile and land documents, in the city of Karachi a large number of illegal immigrants from all over world are holding CNIC, Education Certificate and what not, it seems there is no government in Pakistan.

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conservative

Feb 26, 2015 08:52pm

All Afghan refugees who have been living in Pakistan since early 80s, are registered with Govt of Pakistan and UNHCR, have families here and are not involved in any criminal activities should be naturalized as Pakistani citizens and issued CNIC and family registration certificates. UN agencies should provide them support to settle outside the camps and integrate in our society and pay taxes. All illegal immigrants whether Afgans, Bangladeshi's or Burmese should be deported.

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ALi

Feb 26, 2015 09:14pm

If something wrong doing is found, Following is the resolution technique used in Pakistan. Step 1: Blame and suspension. Step 2: Rejection by the parties involved. Step 3: Back to business as usual. During all this process investigators, police, Judges etc stays home to avoid confusions such as law.

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ijaz

Feb 26, 2015 10:16pm

n 1984, Sharbat moved to Peshawar along with her two sons and since then, she has been residing in the Nasir Bagh camp established for Afghan refugees. this statement is not correct the fact is that she has not given birth to any male child which is of the age to be eligible for NIC, for this wiki can be studied along with materials from national geographic s, until 2002 when she was revealed by NG journalist she had 3 daughters.

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Khattak

Feb 26, 2015 11:33pm

Over ten million Pakistan has dual nationality in other country even our minister are dual national: also they are thousand Pakistani whom benefited from the afghan refugees by stating that they are afghan in other countries ; if this lady and sons wants to be a Pakistani Daul national that is great at lest the afghan want to stay in Pakistan, the majority Pakistan would love to leave and live abroad?

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Husain Jan

Feb 27, 2015 12:13am

According to reports NADRA officials are guilty of issuing CNICs to lot of foreign nationals including Afghans. This has been going on since long but no one has been punished. A few suspensions here and few there is not / never going to stop this practice. Severe punishment is needed.

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azi

Feb 27, 2015 01:06am

Madam as a deputy director of an organisation every employee is under your supervision or at least has to be .......what is happening and where in NADRA : you are responsible, sorry to say I believe its corruption that lead to this , but then again you are to know where are the corrupt people in your organisation.

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Faruk chowhdry

Feb 27, 2015 02:31am

Madam Palwasha, as we all know your department is corrupt any body can get ID card it's so easy, if officials in NADRA were honest and patriotic nationals half of our problems were not there.

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a pakistani

Feb 27, 2015 05:48am

Make all afghans pakistani citizens it's the only solution and forget it if u think they will leave pakistan forever cuz it's like asking ants to stay away from honey.

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dawn reader

Feb 27, 2015 05:51am

For Pakistani citizens getting NADRA CARDS is like getting foreign visa that's how hard it is than how come it's so easy for afghans to get Nadra cards.

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no one

Feb 28, 2015 06:54pm

Its so sad how bad all Afghani has been treated by Pakistani government... Specially by Pakistani police in years. Despite the fact that they getting billions of dollor in the name of refugees

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