ISLAMABAD: The Senate was informed on Thursday that the person heading the national database of 180 million Pakistanis was himself a dual national.

The information was provided to the upper house in reply to a question raised by Senator Malik Mohammad Habib. He had asked about the names and designations of the officials working in the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

The reply said Chairman Nadra Mohammad Tariq Malik was dual nationality holder. Besides, six other officers in the authority also held dual nationality.

They were Director General Fizzah Shahid, directors Ahmed Kamal Gilani, Sohail Jehangir and deputy directors Adnan Qureshi, Waryam Shafqat and Imran Ahmed.

The house was informed that any discrimination against dual citizens for appointment in Nadra was not permissible under Article 25 of the constitution which provided equal treatment to all the citizens.

Medical treatment abroad

In reply to another question raised by Senator Farhatullah Babar, the house was informed that five bureaucrats/officials, one governor, one parliamentarian and one judge of the Supreme Court got medical treatment abroad.

According to the document, Supreme Court Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany spent 5,885 dollars and submitted a reimbursement claim to the prime minister secretariat.

Malik Ghulam Arbi Khar, the husband of former MPA Punjab, Safina Syma Khar spent $50,000 abroad.

Former governor KP Masood Kausar received treatment costing Rs5.4 million, general manger Civil Aviation Authority Capt (retired) Mujahid Islam Khan Rs5 million and former secretary establishment division Mohammad Afzal Kahut 33,503 sterling pounds.

Abdul Qayyum, a stenographer of the PM secretariat, spent Rs7 million, retired BS-21 officer of the secretariat group Mussadiq Mohammad Khan $65,000 and former secretary ministry of overseas Mohammad Aslam Sanjrani spent $20 on medical treatment abroad.