ISLAMABAD - A London-based Kashmiri politician has approached the Islamabad High Court claiming that National Database and Registration Authority has not been renewing his national identity card for overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) allegedly due to his political work and writings on Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir.
A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Athar Minallah conducted hearing in the petition of Dr Shabbir Chaudhry and issued notices to NADRA seeking its comments.
In his petition, Dr Shabbir cited chairman NADRA, the office in-charge NADRA registration centre in London through the first secretary embassy of Pakistan, and secretary ministry of foreign affairs as respondents.
He moved the court through his counsel Nisar Shah Advocate and contended before the court that he filed an application before NADRR UK office nine months ago and still his NICOP has not been renewed while the NICOP of his wife was renewed within six weeks time who also applied at the same time when he did.
His counsel argued before the court that his client is a Kashmiri politician, human rights activist and author of many books, and the government has been delaying issuance of a NICOP to him due to his political work and writings on Pakistan’s Kashmir policy.
Shabbir Chaudhry, a resident of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K), had applied for NICOP renewal in June 2015 at Pakistani High Commission in London. Normally the ID card is issued within six weeks as happened in the case of his wife, the petitioner’s counsel told the court.
The counsel adopted that an identity card is the basic fundamental right of any person that is being violated in the case of his client and NADRA has been using delaying tactics without any lawful objection.
He added that non-issuance of NICOP to his client will create complications and he will suffer due to the reason.
Therefore, he prayed to the court to direct the respondents to renew his NICOP without any further delay.