Staff Reporter
People belonging to different parts of the county made fake domiciles of Karachi and
obtained government jobs on their basis, violating the rights of the citizens of Karachi.Muttahida Quami
Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) MPA Khawaja Izharul Hasan stated this before the Sindh High Court
(SHC).Arguing on his and other MQM-P leaders’ petition against the issuance of domiciles to non-
residents of Karachi before a division bench of the SHC, headed by Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar,
Hasan said the provincial government had failed to take action against the issuance of Karachi domiciles
to non-residents of the city, despite several complaints.He submitted that the issuance of such fake
domiciles and permanent residence certificates (PRCs) was a conspiracy against the citizens of the urban
Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur. He alleged that non-residents of the urban Sindh easily
obtained its domiciles and PRCs, on the basis of which they got government jobs under the quota for
urban areas within a week.He informed the high court that the Supreme Court had also taken notice of
the issuance of fake domiciles and held the provincial government responsible over such irregularities.
He said the dispute of domicile arises due to the urban-rural divide in Sindh.The SHC bench partially
heard the arguments of the petitioner in person and adjourned the hearing till February 11. It also
directed an additional director of the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) to assist the
court on the petition, which also sought the formulation of a policy with regard to the issuance of
domiciles.Hasan and other MQM-P MPAs had submitted in the petition that non-residents of the city
were being issued domiciles by the government, depriving the people of Karachi of government jobs.
They said domiciles and PRCs should not be issued to non-residents as it was a right of the residents of
the city to apply for government jobs under the quota for them.They petitioners had maintained that
non-residents had managed to obtain government jobs and admissions to professional universities on
the basis of fake domiciles and PRCs of the urban quota and deprived the citizens of Karachi of obtaining
government jobs and admissions to professional colleges and universities.A counsel for the petitioners
submitted that the commissioner and the deputy commissioners (DCs) had been informed about the
issuance of domiciles and PRCs to non-residents with evidence; however, no action was taken against
the responsible officers.The lawyer submitted that the commissioner and DCs had given assurances that
they would be vigilant in the future but many brokers and agents were still helping the non-residents of
urban areas get fake domiciles and PRCs.The counsel argued that it was the duty of the government to
ensure transparency and merit in the government employments and asked the SHC to direct the
government to ensure that domiciles of an area should not be issued to any non-resident of that area.
The high court was also requested to constitute a committee for scrutinising the domiciles and PRCs
issued since 2008.
