I WOULD like to draw Nadra’s attention to its stubborn attitude. My first cousin, Syed Ali Asghar, who resides in New York, is a holder of the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP ), issued by Nadra for 10 years.

He applied to Nadra through e-mail for the renewal of his NICOP and paid all the dues. However, he was informed by Nadra that he needed to submit ‘details of his blood relations,’ namely father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, etc.

He has no ‘blood relations’ by way of father, mother and brother as they have all expired. He has one sister, who is a US citizen. His three sons and a daughter are US citizens.

However, Nadra sent him a message of deferment of his NICOP renewal application.

Asghar had requested Nadra for a ‘renewal’ of his existing NICOP and not a new NICOP. While Asghar had expressed his inability to produce ID references of any ‘blood relations’ because either they had expired or are not Pakistani citizens anymore, why was Nadra still insisting that he produce those ID references?’

Does this mean that despite being a citizen of Pakistan, he cannot get his NICOP renewed just because he does not have a blood relation alive and others are not Pakistani citizens anymore?

I am Asghar’s nearest relation in Pakistan, as our fathers were brothers though none of them is alive today. When Asghar visits Pakistan, he stays with me. As a bona fide Pakistan citizen, I undertake any guarantees on his behalf so that his NICOP renewal application is accepted by Nadra. Asghar has also served PIA in Pakistan, UK, France and Kuwait.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2017