LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday summoned Punjab director general of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) on petitions of Pakhtun citizens questioning hurdles in renewal of old and issuance of new computerised national identity cards (CNICs).

Khan Muhammad and others pleaded through their counsel that they had been living in Punjab for decades.

The counsel said the petitioners owned properties and regularly paid all kind of taxes being citizen of Pakistan. He said whenever the petitioner and their family members approached Nadra for issuance of new or renewal of expired CNICs the authority cancelled their cards merely on the basis of being Pashto speaking.

The counsel asked the court to order the Nadra to restore confiscated CNICs of the petitioners and also issue them new cards.

Earlier, the court was told that the Nadra Punjab director general could not appear due to unavoidable official engagement.

The court directed the officer to ensure his presence on next hearing along with a clear reply to the petitions. The hearing was postponed for May 26.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2017