ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, taking swift action against misuse of Pakistani CNICs, on Wednesday gave 48-hour deadline to National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for preparing a road-map to initiate re-verification of CNICs of over 180 million population.

The minister issued the re-verification roadmap order after questions were raised over a Pakistani passport and CNIC found from the drone hit car wreckage site in Balochistan, which were claimed to held by the deceased Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhter Mansour.

Nisar was chairing a meeting at NADRA Headquarters, which was also attended by NADRA chairman, DG Passport and Immigration and officials of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

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“NADRA has 48 hours to submit a work plan with a set deadline for initiation of national plan for re-verification of CNICs across the country,” directed the minister.

“This measure would help us to ensure that in future no alien will be able to use Pakistani CNIC and passport, besides removal of those aliens currently holding Pakistani CNIC,” the interior minister was quoted as saying.

“Being a responsible state we will ensure that usage of CNIC by any alien is completely eliminated after this exercise,” he remarked.

Nisar further directed to ensure that “general public remains at ease and re-verification of CNICs must be done in a most cordial and friendly way”.

“National security agencies will also assist NADRA in future for ensuring blocking of CNICs and their verification.”

The interior minister said NADRA officers and its senior hierarchy must live up to emoluments and perks provided to them, since “this money was coming from the taxes of public”.

“Inefficient and under-performing directors will be removed from service,” he ordered.

He directed the NADRA chairman to take immediate steps to purge the authority of corrupt elements on a fast track basis and said there should be zero tolerance for corruption at all levels.