Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, have arrested the main suspect involved in the theft of computerised national identity cards (CNICs) from a National Database and Registration Authority's (Nadra) office in Karachi and recovered hundreds of CNICs from his possession.

According to a statement issued by the paramilitary force on Thursday, Rangers personnel conducted an intelligence-based operation to arrest the accused from Landhi area of Karachi.

Rangers recovered 803 CNICs along with forms and two cards of Benazir Income Support Programme. The arrested suspect said he had stolen 803 cards and hid them at the residence of one of his relatives, read the statement.

The accused has been handed over to police for further legal action.

A day earlier, police reported that hundreds of CNICs had been stolen from the Nadra office in Landhi area of Karachi ahead of the by-polls in PS-94 Korangi.

According to the police, the suspect had broken into the Nadra office premises late on Tuesday and stole the CNIC cards.

The theft at the Nadra office had come ahead of the by-elections for Sindh Assembly seat, PS-94 Korangi Karachi-III, scheduled for January 27 after the seat fell vacant following the death of MQM MPA Muhammad Wajahat. A total of 28 aspirants have come into the field to contest the by-polls.