PESHAWAR: An anti-terrorism court has directed the special branch police to avoid assigning important verifications and inquiries regarding computerised national identity cards (CNICs) of dubious nationality holders of Pakistan to officers of doubtful character in the department.

ATC Judge Syed Asghar Ali Shah issued the direction after he traced discrepancies in an inquiry report about verification of CNICs of father-in-law and other in-laws of a suspected terrorist Masood, who was arrested last year on charges of collecting donations for a proscribed organisation.

The matter surfaced when the court asked the accused facing trial whether he wanted to produce any defence witness in his support and he produced his wife, Hafsa, claiming that she was a Pakistani national.

On the direction of the court, the special branch police produced an inquiry/verification report about the national status of Ms Mafsa’s father Abdul Nasir, who claimed to be a Pakistani and was also having its CNIC.

ATC traces discrepancies in verification report about alleged terrorist

Going through the report, the judge observed that perusal of the inquiry file revealed that no statement of either of the CNIC holders, copies of which were brought on record as claimed to be relatives of the said Abdul Nasir, was recorded.

The judge observed that no verification of the alleged residence of Abdul Nasir as recorded in the relevant printed form of verification for national identity card provided by Abdul Nasir was carried out.

The judge pointed out that Abdul Nasir claimed his residence at different places in Peshawar since 1979 including Hassan Garhi, Zargarabad and Faqirabad whereas the alleged CNIC of his father Wali Khan was issued on July 14, 2009, containing his present and permanent address of Malala area of Munda tehsil in Dir Lower.

The court observed that the inquiry officer did not question the applicant, Abdul Nasir, to explain the address of his father of 2009 as recorded in his CNIC when he submitted in the verification form that during the period from 2001 till date he and his parents had been residing in Zargarabad.

The court further pointed out that the certification form of the CNIC of Abdul Nasir was containing majority columns vacant.

The judge stated that the SP security/special branch, Tahir Shah, made commitment in the court to trace the ‘black sheep’ involved in the illegality.

The judge asked him not to limit the inquiry to that specific matter under consideration of the court but also take administrative decision to review all such verification reports/inquiries conducted in CNIC of dubious nationality holders, which were declared Pakistani nationals as consequence of such inquiry.

“It is observed for the purpose of clarity in future that national spirit demands honest approach and hard work in such most important and serious matters of nationality and it should not be handed over to such doubtful character in the department,” the judge stated.

The court pointed out that the letter of verification of national status in the case addressed to Nadra office in Hayatabad, Peshawar, was signed by an additional inspector general (AIG) of police special branch that was also a matter of concern as to how he ignored the report, which was on cursory look not only incomplete but also lacking truth and depicting dubious approach of the relevant officer.

The judge directed that a copy of the order should be forwarded to federal interior secretary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home secretary and KP inspector general of police for information and necessary action in the matter under consideration of the court due to its importance as nationality always remained supreme.

It is pertinent to mention here that Masood and another accused Mian Mohammad were arrested in August last year by Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on charges of collecting donations and distributing propaganda material for a banned outfit.

CTD had registered an FIR against them on August 7, 2023, under sections 11-W, 11-N, 11-F (2), 11-OOO and 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act and Section 120-B of Pakistan Penal Code.

CTD claimed that the two persons were collecting donations for proscribed organisation Daesh (IS) and were also distributing pamphlets aimed at instigating people against security forces and urging them to join their organisation.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2024