KARACHI: The Sindh police have sought support from the authorities in Islamabad to get access to crucial links of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) mainly for investigation, which the federally-administrated organisation had already denied saying the “information may be shared, but not the data”.

After a recent meeting presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to review the state of law and order and performance of the law-enforcement agencies amid the ongoing ‘targeted operation’ in Karachi, the police authorities have come up with several proposals, including requests to the PM and the interior ministry to plead their case before the Nadra authorities.

“The Sindh police in general and the Karachi police in particular are finding it hard to pursue investigations of those high-profile cases which require technological support,” said a senior official citing Sindh police proposals.

“The need for such support [Nadra link] is seen more necessary now than ever before when both the police and Rangers are making major arrests daily but are unable to pursue the investigations at the desired pace due to several constraints, including the inability to access the key Nadra data.”

He said the Karachi police primarily wanted access to three key links of Nadra — fingerprints data, family tree and facial recognition — but the authority in the past had categorically denied any such privilege to the law-enforcement agency arguing that all these databases were of civilian nature, solely meant for identity management.

“This link would be a great help but so far they don’t seem willing to give basic information to police such as family tree,” DIG-South Barrister Abdul Khaliq Sheikh told Dawn while confirming police proposals. “We don’t have even link where we can identify the bodies. For each case we have to approach the Nadra authorities to get our requested work done which ultimately affects the overall pace of investigation.”

The prime minister last week declared that the targeted operation in Karachi would continue and the administration would have full authority to bring terrorists to justice. While presiding over the meeting of heads of the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies, also attended by army chief Gen Raheel Sharif, he also announced setting up of two committees to address the grievances and complaints emerging from the operation and to look into issues of a ban on illegal mobile phone SIMs in consultation with cellphone companies.

During the meeting interior minister Chaudhry Nisar briefed the participants on the high-tech equipment being provided to the law-enforcement agencies and cancellation of about 700,000 illegal SIMs. In line with the same information shared by Chaudhry Nisar, the Sindh police forwarded multiple requests which supplemented the interior ministry’s plan to equip the law-enforcement agency on modern lines.

“In the past, the Sindh police for almost a year or so had been in contact with Nadra high-ups directly, seeking access to its comprehensive and integrated database but they had failed to receive a convincing response from Islamabad,” said a source citing the history of relations between the two sides.

“In communications Nadra had almost made it clear that the Sindh police request could not be entertained under the defined protocol, which did not allow any of the law-enforcement agency and intelligence organisation to get direct access to it. The request was made in early 2011 by the Sindh inspector general under recommendations from the forensic division. After that negative response the Sindh police now seek support from the federal government for that access.”

Published in Dawn, June 9th, 2014