IHC suspends NADRA decision
Zubair Qureshi
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the National Database and Registration Authority’s (Nadra) decision of cancelling Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlur Rehaman (JUI-F) leader ex-Senator Hafiz Hamdullah’s citizenship and directed the authority to unblock his Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).
The IHC also suspended Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) notification that bars TV channels from inviting Hamdullah as a guest.
Last week, Nadra had declared Hamdullah ‘alien’ after “finding that he had ‘fraudulently obtained’ his Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC), which was subsequently cancelled.”
The matter was reported in media after the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a directive to TV channels forbidding them to invite or air the JUI-F leader’s comments or interview.
Hamdullah had announced to challenge that in the IHC.
On Tuesday as Chief Justice of the IHC Justice Athar Minallah took up the case for hearing, Nadra counsel appeared before the court and submitted that Hamdullah was first told through a letter that his CNIC had been blocked.
There were issues with his CINC and he was asked to appear before a committee, he said.“The district level committee was informed and Hamdullah appeared before the committee. He was asked to present documents which turned out to be bogus,” Nadra’s counsel told the court. The IHC chief justice, while hearing the arguments asked whether the former senator had kids. “Do the children also have CNIC,” asked IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah.
The court was told that he had kids and one of his sons was in Pakistani army. “Can you doubt the citizenship of a father and husband of a mother who sends her son to sacrifice himself for the country?” the IHC chief justice remarked.
After hearing initial arguments, the IHC suspended Nadra’s decision and restored Hamdullah’s citizenship.
