HARIPUR, Feb 20: Authorities of a local registration office have allegedly junked and sold thousands of application forms of national identity cards , computerized cards and photo copies of pictures of applicants to a scrap seller, sources said here on Thursday.

Local newsmen observed during a visit to the new bus stand in the Haripur city that an Afghan refugee was selling old ID cards, registration forms, photos of ID card holders, receipt books with complete bio-data and photos of applicants and a few new computerized ID cards for Rs20 per kilogramme.

The Afghan DP, who later identified himself as Zarnosh, told the newsmen that he purchased three sacks full of ID cards, photos and other stationary material from some unknown person at Rs15 per kg as scrap the other day and was selling it at Rs20 per kg.

When he was told about the importance of material he bought as junk and put it on sale openly, he expressed ignorance about the seriousness of matter. However, sensing danger, the scrap seller packed the material and disappeared.

While sifting through the heap of junk, the newsmen found over 40 new computerized identity cards prepared by Nadra's local office in 2001, and were valid up to 2010.

They might have been issued to applicants two years back. "Don't they know how serious is the crime of selling ID cards and related forms to a junk seller?," said Irshad, a hawker, who claimed that he had found his photo and that of his wife from the scrap, adding that such lapses on the part of local registration authorities warranted strict action from the higher authorities.

He was apprehensive about the misuse of photos, forms and photocopies of ID cards of scores of people by miscreants.

When approached, the assistant director registration, Haripur, Mohammad Akram, denied that the material was sold as junk to some scrap seller. He accepted that the forms and ID cards produced before him as proof were issued by his office. The official said he would investigate the matter and take stern action against those involved in this crime.