The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has decided to abolish the condition of submitting the old computerised national identity cards (CNICs) while applying for its renewal.
A notification issued on Saturday said the amendment was aimed at providing a ‘fair chance’ to all the citizens to exercise their right to vote.
NADRA Spokesperson Faik Ali Chachar told media that the notification shall remain in effect till the day of election. “Under this clause, all data entry acquisition units shall not demand applicants to surrender their old CNICs and shall be allowed to vote on it too.” According to the notification, the old CNIC shall only be surrendered once the new CNIC has been delivered.
The spokesperson said that NADRA wants to facilitate all the citizens to vote in the upcoming general elections.
In January, the interior ministry had informed the Senate that the country’s database authority detected more than 58,000 fake or suspicious national identity cards, which were “temporarily digitally impounded in NADRA’s database”.
Published in Daily Times, July 15th 2018.
