ISLAMABAD: A dispute between the incumbent National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) chairman and the administrator of the Islamabad Club has reached the civil courts.

The Islamabad Club is currently headed by Nadra Chairman Usman Yusuf Mobeen’s former boss, Shahid Khan, who is also secretary to the president. Mr Mobeen became a member of the club in 2015, when Mr Khan was his boss as the interior secretary. Mr Mobeen was appointed Nadra chairman in February 2015, and in early 2016 Mr Khan was appointed secretary to the president.

Last month, the club’s management committee, headed by Mr Khan, issued Mr Mobeen a notice informing him his membership was being cancelled. The committee consists of 12 members including Mr Khan, who are serving federal secretaries and from the private sector.

Club secretary summoned by civil court hearing case against cancellation of Nadra chairman’s membership

Sources in the Islamabad Club told Dawn the administrator had pointed out that Mr Mobeen was awarded membership in the civil servants category, whereas he was serving in an autonomous body and was not entitled to membership under this category. Sources said membership is given to civil servants at a nominal fee, while it is quite expensive for private members.

When the matter was discussed by the management committee, sources said the majority of the committee members – mostly federal secretaries – voted against Mr Mobeen. The club subsequently cancelled Mr Mobeen’s membership, declaring him ineligible for membership in the civil servants category.

Mr Mobeen has challenged the cancellation of his membership before a civil court in Islamabad. His counsel Saqib Jamal adopted before the court that Mr Mobeen is a government servant, and his designation is registrar general of Pakistan.

He said the registrar general of Pakistan is the authority that issues computerised national identity cards to every citizen and to overseas Pakistanis.

He argued that the management committee could not cancel the Nadra chairman’s membership after two years over a minor issue such as the category, which is also not relevant in this case.

The court then issued summons for the Islamabad Club secretary and adjourned the matter until May 17.

When the Islamabad Club administration was approached for comment, an official said secretary Arif Mahmmud had recently retired and was the appropriate individual to contact.

When contacted, Mr Mahmmud said the committee discussed the matter is detail and with the majority votes decided to cancel Mr Mobeen’s membership.

Mr Mahmmud, who served in the club for 18 years, said it is unusual for the management committee to cancel membership. “It has been over five years since the committee cancelled the membership of an individual for a reason other than non-payment,” he said.

According to him, the committee can cancel club membership due to non-payment, which can be restored after the outstanding dues have been paid. However, he said, the restoration of membership is very difficult in cases where it has been cancelled for other reasons.

Published in Dawn, May 10th, 2017