Afghan nationals: Senate panel concerned at issuance of fake POCs by Nadra

Senate Implementation Committee on Tuesday expressed strong concern over issuance of fake Pakistani Origin Cards (POCs) by National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to certain individuals who have taken asylum in European countries while declaring themselves Afghan nationals, and recommended to formulate a workable mechanism to stop this practice.

The committee meeting was presided over by Dilawar Khan. The Senate panel took stock of the reports that several persons who have taken asylum in European countries while claiming to be Afghan nationals, are now trying to obtain POCs issued by Nadra.

"This is a very alarming development. We have come to know that there are people who have illegally obtained these cards in collusion with Nadra officials. We need to stop aliens from becoming Pakistani nationals. The federal government will have to do something about it, the sooner the better," committee Chairman Dilawar Khan said.

The Nadra officials briefed the committee that POCs are issued to those applicants who surrender their Pakistani nationality to acquire nationality of a country that does not allow dual nationality. The POC holders are allowed to fly to Pakistan without visa and are eligible to purchase property in Pakistan, the Senate panel was briefed.

The committee observed that the government departments and relevant ministries including Interior Ministry, Nadra, Directorate General of Immigration and Passport (DGIP), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and intelligence agencies should formulate a mechanism to deal with cases of fake POCs while ensuring that the rights of genuine applicants are not violated.

It merits a mention here that Nadra recently cancelled the citizenship of senior Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) leader and former senator Hafiz Hamdullah while declaring him an Afghan national. Corresponding to this move, Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) barred television channels from allowing Hamdullah to appear in talk shows after he was declared 'alien' by Nadra.

Hamdullah challenged this decision in Islamabad High Court (IHC), which, on Tuesday, suspended Nadra's decision to cancel the JUI-F leader's nationality till the matter is decided by the court.

Meanwhile, the Senate panel also discussed the reported problems faced by pensioners in Levis who performed duties in Kurram and Orakzai districts in erstwhile FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas.) The committee was briefed by SAFRON officials that some officers worked beyond the age of superannuation and were being given salaries as well as pensions and the Ministry of SAFRON (States and Frontier Regions) recovered 'some amount' from the ones overpaid. This recovered amount was diverted to the deserving retired employees, the committee was briefed. Keeping in view that the related case is sub judice in the Supreme Court, the committee decided to wait for the court's decision before making any recommendations regarding the matter.

The committee deferred the matter of charging vacations' fee by private educational institutions due to the absence of Senator Manzoor Kakar, the mover of this agenda item.

The committee members including Aurangzeb Khan, Molvi Faiz Muhammad, Khanzada Khan, Sajjad Hussain Turi, Naseebullah Khan Bazai as well as officials from Nadra, MOFA, Interior Ministry and SAFRON attended the meeting.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019