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QUETTA, Oct 3: Police have arrested six more officials of National Database and Registration Authority, Chaghai, in connection with alleged preparation of fake identity cards.
According to sources, Nadra employee Shahid Baig, who was arrested two days back with tampered ID card forms, informed the police during investigation that some other officials posted in Chaghai were also involved the fake NICs scandal.
The Nushki police on Thursday arrested six officials of the department and started investigation. The arrested officials arrested include, Chaghai Nadra Superintendent Barkat Ali, Assistant Superintendent Kamal Khan, Supervisor Mohammad Ayub, Hanif and Haider.
Sources said a team had been formed to question the officials. “More arrests cannot be ruled out,” they said.
The police had arrested Shahid Baig on a tip-off that he was making thumb impressions on the registration forms instead of taking the those of the applicants. The police recovered 550 such forms from his possession.
A case has been registered against the accused.
APP ADDS: A spokesman for the interior ministry on Thursday strongly refuted the allegations regarding issuance of fake national identity cards.
Commenting on reports that fake identity cards were being made for rigging in Nushki and Larkana, the spokesman said: “The accusations are baseless and there is no truth in them.”
The factual position, he said, was that in Nushki district one Shahid Baig was reported to be in unauthorized possession of some applications forms. He was apprehended by Nadra officials and handed over to police for investigation. He said the story in Larkana was not different and the persons reported to be producing fake NICs had nothing to do with Nadra.
He said Nadra had instituted a campaign for issuance of identity cards to voters who did not have NICs and it was making every effort for issuance of manual cards to all voters for the election.
However, he said, sufficient measures had been taken to ensure that no fake card was produced and only those are being issued manual cards whose names existed in the voters list and who had submitted application for computerized NICs.
Verification all application forms was being carried out as per laid down procedure and through electronic means.
He categorically stated that according to preliminary investigations, no Nadra official was found involved in any wrongdoing as reported in the the press.
He said Nadra chairman had instituted special measures in this regard and issued instructions to the regional directors-general to take stern disciplinary action against any official reported to be involved in such activities. He expressed his confidence that Nadra would be able to issue NICs to all eligible voters before the election.
