ISLAMABAD: The process to issue Islamabad domicile certificates is being made more stringent to prevent their issuance to people from other parts of the country, a parliamentary subcommittee was told on Monday.

A couple of years ago, around 80 people from other parts of the country obtained domicile certificates issued by the Domicile Branch of Islamabad on the basis of forged documents.

The panel was told that a new standard operating procedure (SOP) has almost been finalised under which only Islamabad’s voters will be eligible for domicile certificates.

A subcommittee of National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat was told by Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat that around 80 people obtained Islamabad domiciles on the basis of forged electricity bills.

Applicants for domicile will have to prove they or their parents are registered voters in capital

He said this incident took place a few years ago and is currently under investigation by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

The Domicile Branch of Islamabad works under the administrative control of the deputy commissioner’s office and is supposed to issue domicile certificates of the capital.

Mr Shafqaat told the committee that after an inquiry, around 80 domiciles have been cancelled. He said that under the new SOP, applicants will have to prove that they or their parents are registered voters in Islamabad.

The requirement of utility bills as proof of residence is also being removed, he said.

Sources said that most of the fake domicile certificates were used by applicants – particularly those from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – for jobs in departments attached to the Ministry of Housing and Works. They said that NAB is currently investigating a case regarding recruitments in housing ministry-associated departments.

Committee members, including MNAs Tahir Sadiq and Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, said that the process of issuing domicile certificates should be made transparent and easy for the public. MNA Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz was specially invited to the meeting.

The committee recommended that the National Database and Registration Authority help the deputy commissioner’s office issue accurate domicile certificates. Both organisations have been asked to coordinate with each other.

The subcommittee at its last meeting had recommended that all jobs from grades one to 15 in 18 local departments be given to Islamabad domicile holders.

Committee chair MNA Ali Nawaz Awan also discussed the delay in appointing a chairman of the Zakat Committee.

He said the delay has also delayed the disbursement of the Zakat fund.

“I do not know what the reasons are for the delay in the notification of the chairman,” he said, adding that underprivileged people have been suffering due to the unnecessary delay.

Mr Awan was told that the security clearance for the proposed chairman has faced delay.

The committee said that if the verification process and security clearance has not been completed within a month, it will presume that the Intelligence Bureau has no objection to the Zakat Committee chairman’s appointment.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2019