"NADRA is an autonomous organisation and it does not receive any financial support from federal government. We rely on our operations/projects to generate revenues-mainly by providing technical assistance to different organizations. NADRA deserves to be paid by ECP for its services as both the sides have signed an agreement in this context," sources quoted chairman NADRA as having told the meeting.
On the other hand, the ECP officials were of the view that NADRA is legally bound to share data with the ECP and render the related support in the light of the Section 25 of Elections Act 2017, and, the ECP, therefore, is not required to pay NADRA for the services, sources said. After exchanging arguments with NADRA officials, the ECP decided that a separate meeting would be held to resolve the matter, it is learnt. Apparently annoyed by chairman NADRA's demand, the ECP officials "expressed anger at NADRA's performance in the wake of failure of Result Transmission System (RTS) in 2018 general elections," Business Recorder has learnt.
The amount payable to NADRA on part of ECP is still not known but it is believed to be in millions, sources said. Section 25 of the Elections Act 2017 reads, "National Database and Registration Authority to transmit data.-(1) In such manner as may be prescribed, the National Database and Registration Authority shall transmit relevant data of every fresh National Identity Card issued by it to the Commission for registration of the card-holder as a voter in the electoral roll of the electoral area in which his permanent or temporary address is located, in accordance with the option indicated by him in the application for issuance of the National Identity Card. (2) The Authority shall also transmit to the Commission relevant data of every cancelled or modified National Identity Card, information regarding deceased voters and such other details as may be required by the Commission for the purposes of this Act. (3) The Commission shall forward the data referred to in sub-sections (1) and (2) to the Registration Officer concerned who shall take steps for enrolment or, as the case may be, correction in the relevant electoral roll in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed. Explanation.-Fresh National Identity Card includes any card that has not been earlier made part of the electoral roll database due to any reason whatsoever-"