IHC issues non-bailable arrest warrants for NADRA chief

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Wednesday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Usman Yusuf Mobeen and a representative of Ministry of Interior for not abiding by the court's orders. The warrants were issued for the chairman for not appearing in the court despite orders. However, the court withdrew its earlier order when the chairman NADRA appeared before the court in the matter.
The court had issued notice to the chairman NADRA over his alleged failure to provide facility of computerising record and introduction of biometric system in the police stations for registration of FIRs, and computerisation of record of land revenue and excise and taxation departments of Islamabad.
During 2010, Islamabad High Court had asked the NADRA to provide access of the biometric details of land revenue to police and Federal Investigation Agency, however, NADRA failed to observe the court's directives. To which, seeking contempt proceedings against the concerned authorities in the matter, former secretary of Islamabad High Court Bar Association (IHCBA) Mohammad Waqas Malik has filed a petition under Article 199 making secretary interior, chief commissioner Islamabad, Nadra chairman, inspector general of police, Islamabad, and excise and taxation officer Islamabad as respondents.
On Wednesday, appearing before a single-judge bench of the Justice Noorul Haq Qureshi, the petitioner's lawyer requested the court to issue directives to the respondents to implement the court's orders for introduction of biometric system in order to save the general public from any possible fraud and concealment of the facts.
Waqas Malik contended that land revenue record computerisation of the rural areas of Islamabad will eliminate menace of corruption, besides ensuring convenience to the villagers. He said that non-computerisation of the land revenue record provides opportunity to patwaris (land revenue clerks) and their unauthorised so-called assistants to make a chain of bribery and exercise delaying tactics in provision of title documents to the land owners.
During the course of hearing, the chief commissioner Islamabad submitted that his office is ready to initiate the biometric system in land revenue matters. Waqas Malik apprised the bench that chairman NADRA has not complied with the court directives and was also not present in the court. He urged the court to take action against the chairman NADRA in the matter to which the bench issued non-bailable arrest warrant for the chairman but during the course of the day, it has been reported that the chairman NADRA appeared before the court and upon his assurance to remain present during the next hearing, the court withdrew its earlier order in the matter.
The petitioner has urged the court to issue directives for computerisation of revenue record of the Islamabad Capital Territory, introduction of biometric system and installation of CCTV cameras at the time of the transfer of the built-up properties and land in the office of the land revenue registrar office Islamabad, introduction of biometric system and CCTV cameras at the time of transfer of vehicle in the Islamabad Excise and Taxation office, introduction of biometric system in all the police stations of Islamabad for registration of FIRs and verification of individuals. Later, hearing of the matter was adjourned till March 03.