RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control Friday expressed concern over blocked computerised national identity cards (CNICs) of the genuine citizens and directed National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to immediately take steps to unblock CNICs of Pakistani nationals.

The committee which met with Senator Abdul Rehman Malik in the chair directed NADRA to look into this matter to fix it forthwith.

Malik said he received a number of complaints from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) regarding blocked CNICs. The complainants informed him that their CNICs were blocked for unknown reasons, due to which they are suffering.

He directed the NADRA and officials of Interior Ministry to look into the issue being faced by the people from KPK, FATA and Balochistan, which is creating a sense of discrimination among them.

The committee expressed annoyance over absence of Chairman NADRA from the meeting.

The parliamentary penal expressed grave concern over loss of 42 people from Christian community who had consumed poisonous liquor in Toba Tek Singh. The committee observed thirty seconds silence for condolence with heirs of the victims.

The committee directed the secretary interior to probe into the matter and submit a report before the committee.

Vice-Chancellor Quaid-e-Azam University Dr Javed Ashraf while briefing the committee said that university is facing a number of problems related to drugs and encroachments, besides security issues. “The university has repeatedly informed the relevant departments to take action against drug mafia and encroachers, but so far no concrete measures have been taken,” he added.

Malik said the committee cannot ignore the serious issue related to drugs and security of the Quaid-e-Azam University and directed relevant officials to address it forthwith.

The committee directed secretary interior to deploy police, Frontier Corps and Rangers in university to ensure foolproof security.

Senator Shahi Syed said he is astonished why the government is still careless about security of Quaid-e-Azam University, as the nation has not forgotten the tragedy of Bacha Khan University where dozens of students were killed.

Malik further said the increase in drug addictions across the country and particularly in educational institutions has put the future of the country in danger. There should be no concession and relaxation to those who are found involved in spread of this curse in the society, he added.

He said that thousands of people are being deported from different countries and it is the need of the hour to take action against those travel agents who are betraying innocent people. The committee insisted for putting in place a strong legislation regarding such issues.

The meeting was also attended by Senator Shibli Faraz, Senator Saleh Shah, Senator Muhammad Ali Khan Saif, Chairman CDA Sheikh Ansar Aziz and senior officials of ministry of interior, NADRA and the Islamabad police.