IHC calls Nisar, Punjab CS in NADRA’s suit for damages

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday summoned Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Punjab Chief Secretary Nasir Khosa and others in a suit filed against them by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) for damages of Rs10 billion. Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan heard the case in which counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Raza Kazim, contended that Chaudhry Nisar had levelled false allegations against NADRA badly damaging reputation of the government organisation. He contended that NADRA had deployed a mobile registration van (MRV) near Rawat to issue computerized national identity cards (CNIC) to the employees and residents of Bahria Town on the request of the Bahria Town management of. He added that the MRV had issued 2,014 registration forms, while a semi-mobile unit (SMU) in the same area had processed nearly 4,000 cases.
In the meantime, the lawyer submitted, Chaudhry Nisar served a legal notice on NADRA Chairman Ali Arshad Hakeem, saying the said practice was illegal and certain officials of NADRA, at the behest of certain elements, were issuing fake CNICs in NA-52 constituency. “NADRA had to bear irreparable loss due to the false allegations of Chaudhry Nisar of issuing fake CNICs to the employees of Bahria Town,” he added.
The counsel made PML-N leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the Punjab chief secretary, Civil Lines SHO Raja Shakeel and 12others respondents. He further contended that on March 8, the police officials of the Civil Lines (Rawalpindi) police picked up the staffers of NADRA, including two female staffers and also took an MRV into their custody which had not been released so far, on which a NADRA deputy manager lodged an FIR for its recovery with Koral police station. He stated that NADRA could not get back the MRV despite fulfilling legal requirements. He stated further that Chaudhry Nisar leveled allegations against the NADRA when it was set to sign MOUs with international organisations. He requested the court to issue a decree of Rs10 billion as damages against Nisar and other defendants. After hearing arguments, Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan summoned PML-N leader Nisar and others and adjourned the hearing until February.