Nadra records prove Tashfeen Malik's CNIC is not fake

E-Paper | May 06, 2026

KARACHI: The copy of the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) of Tashfeen Malik, which surfaced in international publications and local social media, has been found to be authentic, according to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) verification service.

The 27-year-old woman and her US-born husband Syed Rizwan Farook are the main suspects in the shooting of 14 people in San Bernardino, California, last week. Both were killed.

Read: Suspects Syed Farook, Tashfeen Malik kill 14 in California shooting: authorities

Speculation arose on social media, questioning the authenticity of Tashfeen Malik's CNIC copy and claiming the details were part of a larger conspiracy.

Tweet criticising Tashfeen Malik's CNIC copy

But a quick message to one of Nadra's verification services show that the CNIC mentioned in the international reports was in fact registered in the name of one Tafsheen Malik daughter of Gulzar Ahmed Malik.

Screenshot of confirmation from Nadra's 7000 and 8300 services which match the details in the CNIC copy. The message from 7000 corroborates the CNIC number with the name of Tashfeen Malik daughter of Gulzar Ahmed Malik. The other message shows the address registered on the CNIC in Dera Ghazi Khan district of Punjab.

US authorities had identified Tashfeen as a Pakistani who arrived there last year on a special visa for fiancés of US citizens as one of the California shooters. Another US official said Malik had pledged allegiance to chief of the militant Islamic State group, al-Baghdadi, in a posting on Facebook under an account that used a different name

Also read: Act of individual does not represent a country or religion, says Nisar

Tashfeen's relatives say she and her father seemed to have abandoned the family's moderate Islam and became more radicalised during years they spent in Saudi Arabia.

The CNIC of Tashfeen Malik is shown in this undated handout picture from a government official and obtained by Reuters on December 5, 2015.— Reuters/file

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

California shooter studied at Al-Huda institute: teacher

California shooting: Female assailant became hardline in S. Arabia, say relatives

California killing: Female assailant was from Pakistan, CAIR claims

manal

Dec 08, 2015 01:07pm

So? she was a US citizen at the time of this event. Rather US should learn to manage the inflow from other countries. She lived most of her life in Saudia, why on earth is Pakistan being highlighted? as if she arrived from their a day before the attack? US up to its dirty games again....

Recommend 0

Pakistan

Dec 08, 2015 01:14pm

disgusting.

Recommend 0

Rashid

Dec 08, 2015 01:14pm

Lot of sites on Internet claim San Bernardino a false flag operation with logical proves.

Recommend 0

Sharique

Dec 08, 2015 01:26pm

CNIC card number may be correct as its easy to obtain from passport or other places but surely the card is fake. This font is never user and photo is never pasted rather printed. and same goes for the signature place.

Recommend 0

Ali

Dec 08, 2015 01:28pm

what is right or wrong but we had information through Dr Shaid Masood program that once the incident took place in US the media reported first that there were three mans who were shooting at public, but latter they changed the report and stated they were one man and woman, whereas we haven't seen anything in visual proof. The world rely whatever they produce in front of the world, followed by US candidate statement they shouldn't allow Muslims to enter US, which indicate something else.

Recommend 0

AV Houston

Dec 08, 2015 01:32pm

Ok why people are disgusted. We cant make a nation of 190 million responsible for an act few weak individual.

Recommend 0

Ailly

Dec 08, 2015 01:35pm

NADRA suddenly sprung like a live wire ......... and proved she is from Pakistan. on the other hand, NADRA could not verify thumb impressions for voters, even in 3 years....

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Dec 08, 2015 01:45pm

What we know is what we are being told by the US agencies. You cannot doubt the capabilities of their machinating everything that they want to be believed. Otherwise, there is no proof of the housewife getting training in operating to precision, the sophisticated arms and ammunition that they discovered from their residence. Even, her allegiance to Al Baghdadi was only a day old and in a fake name.

Recommend 0

Inqelab Zindabad

Dec 08, 2015 01:51pm

@AV Houston Cos 190 bn strong people cannot control a few weak individual

Recommend 0

Ajamal

Dec 08, 2015 02:00pm

How does one become "radicalized" while visiting SA? I have been living there for last 25 years!! Makes me laugh.

Recommend 0

Ammad

Dec 08, 2015 02:05pm

Strange only for me that even the pics of CNIC shown above seem to be photoshopped. The font and brightness of the ser "Name" does not match with the original name written on the ID Card. same goes for each and every entry. Also font of "shanakhti no" and the no mentioned is different. Not to mention the overwriting of CNIC No on the "card no"... strange.. Neva seen such a poorly made CNIC before

Recommend 0

irfan

Dec 08, 2015 02:07pm

Who said Nadra is not performing. Nadra is outstanding. At least in this type of matters.

Recommend 0

UFO

Dec 08, 2015 02:08pm

In Pakistani original CNIC, the flag overlaps the right edge of the picture. This is a doctored image.

Recommend 0

yawar

Dec 08, 2015 02:13pm

the picture shown of identity card is very suspicious ... the fonts color miss match and aren't aligned ... i think there isn't any english pasted on standard nadra card

Recommend 0

yawar

Dec 08, 2015 02:15pm

urdu on thia id card also seems to be translated via machine translator

Recommend 0

Muhammad Ali

Dec 08, 2015 02:20pm

The font doesn't match in the left one.

Recommend 0

Strange

Dec 08, 2015 02:20pm

@yawar I never had any family member with such a suspicious looking ID card. The photos on computerized ID cards are not taken in the paper format and then put on the card by scanning or pasting it. The Signatures are also not pasted on the card too. I never known to this that Nadra ever issued such "computerized" ID cards. If any one here has got such ID card, then please post some picture.

Recommend 0

yawar

Dec 08, 2015 02:31pm

all these events seem to be converging as a propoganda against Pakistan ... FIA should promptly take action against the false document

Recommend 0

Zunny

Dec 08, 2015 02:35pm

The details might be correct but the picture circulating on social media of the CNIC is a photoshopped for sure? Where's the date of issue? Fonts do not match as that of the ones we get on the standard CNIC . Someone just got the correct details and photoshopped it

Recommend 0

rehan

Dec 08, 2015 02:43pm

@Ajamal It won't make you laugh if you'll mentally so weak that you buy everything CNN has to offer.

Recommend 0

Iztraab

Dec 08, 2015 02:53pm

They are still suspects and something is fishy here.

Recommend 0

IJLAL

Dec 08, 2015 02:54pm

It is U.S plot, this is enough to say and believe it is fake. The expiry date is visible, but where is the date of issue? Keep making the world U.S (unsustainable) "great" American government. One wonders how NADRA has issued the CNIC with different FONT type to capture details of an individual.

Recommend 0

nasro

Dec 08, 2015 02:54pm

The above picture is an image sticked taken by a photographer which latter is put on the NIC, the white line on on Tasfeens's picture's right side prove that whereas Nadra always shoot a picture by them self which then appears on the NIC and it never have a white line on any side of the picture

Recommend 0

Irfan

Dec 08, 2015 03:01pm

Paris attack didnot motivate enough , US thought one should be here as well .

Recommend 0

Ali

Dec 08, 2015 03:11pm

Please don't trust whatever they projected, because there are reports which say that three white man who were shooting on public, later they changed the report.

Recommend 0

Hassan Baig

Dec 08, 2015 03:13pm

Thank you for publishing this and weakening all these resounding conspiracy theories that are popping up all over the Muslim world, Pakistan being at the helm of it of course.

Recommend 0

Wah wah

Dec 08, 2015 03:26pm

I dont understand teh issue. She was a Pakistani so she will have an ID card. What is the problem here?

Recommend 0

Shaukat Ali Khan

Dec 08, 2015 03:35pm

So, what does it prove; All Pakistanis are terrorists? Her husband was a born US citizen; So, can we say all Americans are terrorists?

Recommend 0

Rick_james

Dec 08, 2015 03:38pm

NADRA is useless, since they couldn't even get thumb verification during election.

Recommend 0

mhw

Dec 08, 2015 03:39pm

i don't understand why we are so much concern about her , she is the us citizen as well. these type problems/issues common in US. we recently see many events. let them investigate. We are not responsible of anyone act. We are very peaceful and loving nation.

Recommend 0

Observer

Dec 08, 2015 03:49pm

@Ali And they found a Pakistani woman and killed her to proove their point. Looks like Trump is behind this.

Recommend 0

ASHFAQ

Dec 08, 2015 03:57pm

No need to over exaggerate , we know we have people with extremist minds and there are nurseries of extremism existing blatantly even in our capital.If its Tashfeen or else, let it be.Who ever the terrorist or killer must be brought to justice and there is no need to worry if shes from Pakistan, terrorists have no religion or country , they are terrorists with a blind ideology .An individuals act never represent a whole nation, just try to disassociate yourself from this MINDSET in reality and there is no question on you for sure..

Recommend 0

AV Houston

Dec 08, 2015 04:05pm

@Inqelab Zindabad @AV Houston Cos 190 bn strong people cannot control a few weak individual REPLY seriously and is it 190 billion

Recommend 0

Arun (india)

Dec 08, 2015 04:17pm

Accepting truth is better than wasting time in refuting convincing charges. Yes she was Pakistani, so what? No part of the world is without good and bad people and so in Pakistan, India and America. We are in making. We have progressed and are progressing. These hiccups shall also be overcome in future, inshallah.

Recommend 0

Fahad

Dec 08, 2015 04:23pm

@Inqelab Zindabad Wrong ... How can you say that? Could millions of Americans control or prevent Bush from invading Iraq, Afghanistan? Could Americans control the shootings done by their own people? If you google, you would find many such incidents where their own "English People" were involved. In UK, a few years back "killings" by black teenagers were a "normal thing" on petty issues.

Recommend 0

Mohsin Aziz

Dec 08, 2015 04:31pm

The CNIC number may be accurate but can Dawn confirm that picture shown of the ID Card is not doctored ?

Recommend 0

Usman

Dec 08, 2015 04:48pm

Airplane Mode does not let you send a text message :D

Recommend 0

Boyzes_RWP

Dec 08, 2015 04:56pm

why is the date it was made not there???

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Dec 08, 2015 05:09pm

It was the Individual act cant understand the purpose of explaination

Recommend 0

PHILOSOPHER (from Japan)

Dec 08, 2015 06:36pm

hahaa...nice try folks...an innocent question? why the fields are different in colors as answering fields are BOLD while questioning fields are dim? Why there is no ISSUANCE DATE??? i have never seen any CNIC without it.. Lets assume it was made 10 years back than all the fields should be dimmed not only the questioning side. Final question, if the data on CNIC is printing from the database of NADRA than why these two differ?? The data of birth NADRA record confirms her age as 29 but the US MEDIA showing driver's license and SS CARD which mentioned she was 27 years. if NADRA record is correct then passport should have her actual d.o.b. which should be transferred to US driving license and Social security card. No man, I don't buy this story it has enough flaws. However, I appreciate the efforts made by photoshop.

Recommend 0

Singh

Dec 08, 2015 06:41pm

@manal : She was not US citizen yet. It is long process to be US citizen.

Recommend 0

romy

Dec 08, 2015 06:41pm

delusional !!

Recommend 0

Ahsan Gul

Dec 08, 2015 07:03pm

Positive teachings/thinking and speaches full of hate can effect different people in different ways. So, it is very important that our authorities monitors what is being delivered and said in mosques and religious gatherings. A person does not get mentally washed in a year or so. It is the constant contact with the negative people that influnce innocent minds.

Recommend 0

UDBarry

Dec 08, 2015 07:14pm

Hmm....date of expiry is there, but not date of issue......interesting! usually CNICs are valid for 10 years....which means this was issued in 2012 when the person was 26 years of age.....

Recommend 0

Assamese

Dec 08, 2015 07:35pm

@manal She was not a US citizen. She was a Pakistani citizen.

Recommend 0

kashmiri

Dec 08, 2015 07:46pm

@mhw She wasnt a US citizen. She had a temporary green card on pakistani passport.

Recommend 0

Thomas

Dec 08, 2015 08:22pm

@manal She was not a U.S citizen. She was only in U.S for 2 years. You need to be in U.S for 5 years in green card before you can get citizenship.

Recommend 0

rish

Dec 08, 2015 09:44pm

One other thing people may want to consider... It was the husband who had this planned all along and then went looking for a 'like minded' wife. In a 'normal' situation one spouse would be able to talk sense into the other, but with both pre-radicalized, this attack was only a matter of time.

Recommend 0

Kash

Dec 08, 2015 09:54pm

@Manal She wasn't not yet a U.S citizen. Also, this cnic copy is from Nadra's system, before it's printed on the card. It is not the actual cnic card but a screen shot from the computer. If you tell some one at nadra to email you a screen shot of your cnic it will look like this. I have my cnic screen shot and it looks like it.

Recommend 0

Saad

Dec 08, 2015 09:55pm

@UDBarry Not always. My card was issued for 13 years.

Recommend 0

Lalooprasad

Dec 08, 2015 10:43pm

@Thomas if married with US citizen, can apply after 3 years to get US citizenship

Recommend 0

Usman

Dec 08, 2015 11:18pm

Yes this card doesn't seem fake

Recommend 0

DMDiL

Dec 08, 2015 11:39pm

You all need some knowledge gaining to do. All of you think our people can't do that or media is lying. This is real. just look at pakistani local news. It's full of evil stuff going on around the country.

Recommend 0

noon

Dec 09, 2015 12:49am

No doubt the picture can be photo shopped but the fact that the ID card number is returned by verification service the name of the person to which it was issued indeed looks like it was her CNIC..also you cannot compare the photos to finger prints as finger prints are more prone to external factors like temperature and humidity which can cause the original finger prints to become weak over period of time unless protected to preserver it..photos on the other hand are much easier to preserve..BTW I'm just giving my counter argument here to the majority of the arguments seen just want a fair investigation on this case!!!

Recommend 0

Muhammad ali

Dec 09, 2015 12:49am

Are u kidding me! look at date of birth look at signature its fake for sure

Recommend 0

Syed Ganga Din

Dec 09, 2015 01:48am

Never mind these trivial matters about CNIC. Find out who was behind it, if any one from Pakistan, so that the world would know the real story.

Recommend 0

Samee

Dec 09, 2015 02:06am

The article did not mention why did people criticized the CNIC. Apparently due to unofficial fonts used.

Recommend 0

pc amin

Dec 09, 2015 02:10am

@manal she studied in pakistan from 2007 to 2012

Recommend 0

pc amin

Dec 09, 2015 02:11am

she studied in pakistan from 2007 to 2012

Recommend 0

RRA

Dec 09, 2015 03:53am

@Rashid I have seen initial live CNN report of the incident and eye witness accounts of at least two eye witnesses reported by CBS and a local NBC affiliate saying there were three tall white men wearing black military fatigues who did the shooting.

Recommend 0

Imran Khan

Dec 09, 2015 05:35am

@noon Also there is no date of issue on the card.

Recommend 0

Pray & Prey

Dec 09, 2015 06:43am

@Ali : Look up M.r AQziz's }patterns and narratives" for proof!

Recommend 0

A Pakistani

Dec 10, 2015 01:01pm

@Ali This news appeared very soon after the shooting and it contains what was reported in the initial 911 calls. The 3 white males they are referring to were the 3 cops who showed up within minutes after the shooting. Arriving so soon at the crime scene, dressed in the same tactical gear as the assailants, they looked suspicious to whoever made that 911 call.

Recommend 0

rehan

Dec 10, 2015 02:21pm

So when are we getting some updates on the husband who seems to be getting no coverage at all !

Recommend 0

Qurb

Dec 11, 2015 03:41pm

Here at CNIC issuance date is not mentioned?

Recommend 0