ISLAMABAD - Banning the entry of foreigners into the offices of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) due to certain interests of international powers in the database of the authority, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Friday disclosed that distortion and manipulation were taking place in the authority’s record.
“Distortion and manipulation in certain departments of NADRA is a serious issue,” Interior Minister said and warned the NADRA officials to rectify all distortions and manipulations within two weeks otherwise disciplinary action would be initiated against all those involved in the illegal practice.
He also banned the entry of foreigners in the offices of authority without prior approval from the Interior Ministry and NDRA higher authorities.
Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan gave these remarks while briefing journalists at NADRA Headquarters after his first formal visit to the authority’s main office. The briefing was coupled with his address to NADRA employees.
However, the minister avoided giving answers to the questions of reporters about the government’s intention to launch full-scale operation in tribal areas of the country. He only said that targeted strikes had been started in Mastung area of Balochistan.
The minister asserted that international powers had interests in the database of the authority as it was handling a very sensitive data and extra care was needed to secure this. “It has come into my knowledge that the movement of foreigners was frequent in NADRA offices,” he said, adding that a ban had been imposed on the entry and interaction of any foreigner with the NADRA officials without prior approval. “Foreigners can meet with the NADRA officials but it should be into the notice of Interior Ministry as well as NADGA higher authorities,” he said. He also said that intelligence agencies had showed reservations about the working of some officials in NADRA without proper security clearance and Board of Directors (BoD) of NADRA would decide this matter. He also banned the use and carrying of personal laptops by NADRA employees within offices, fearing they might steal classified data.
He said that any NADRA employee could send complaint to him about any illegal practice going on in the authority. Chaudhry Nisar said that the authority would review all those suspected cases in which NADRA issued national identity cards to foreigners.
He said that a reference would be sent to the Board of Directors (BoD) of NADRA and its meeting to be held next week will frame rules regarding creation of posts of Director Generals (DGs) in the authority to ensure that only those would remain enact that were necessary and other would be abolished. He said that DGs performance and positions would be reviewed.
The minister said non-transparency in financial and administrative affairs of NADRA would not be tolerated and sought an explanation from the former acting chairman NADRA Brigadier (Retd) Zahid Hussain as to why he gave a 10 per cent raise in the salaries of employees during his some hours long tenure as acting chairman. “If the answer was not found satisfactory, board would be requested to initiate disciplinary action,” he said.
He also announced to withdraw 10 per cent raise and another 15 per cent announced during former chairman NADRA Tariq Malik’s tenure. “NADRA’s 71 per cent income goes to salaries and you have made it a political recruiting agency,” he said, adding that bonuses and pay raises were announced by former heads whenever they wanted. He said that NADRA was not above the law. He disclosed that hundreds were recruited in NADRA despite a ban during his government ‘s tenure and incumbent acting chairman did not have the exact figure how many were recruited during last government and rough figure was 8000.
About foreign postings of NADRA employees, the minister announced to withdraw all NADRA staff from foreign postings who were staying beyond their specified tenure of one and half year. He said in future such postings would be made through open competition among NADRA employees and a reference would be sent to the BoD for framing rules on the matter. He also pointed out and criticised the hefty salary structures of NADRA employees posted abroad.
He said that a mega project had been conceived with the help of SUPARCO and capital police for the tracking and movement of vehicles in the capital city and now NADRA was being made partner of the project.
Chaudhry Nisar criticizing former chairman NADRA Tariq Malik said that all the foreign contracts were signed by NADRA during the tenure of its former chairman Brigadier (Retd) Saleem Moeen except with Sri Lanka. Tariq Malik used to be claimed as initiator of these contracts. He also appreciated the role of Saleem Moeen, saying he would be included into the Board of Directors of NADRA.
The minister said that chairman NADRA would be appointed through open transparent manner for the first time in the history of authority. All former chairpersons were appointed in violation of the NADRA Ordinance. He said that high profile commission identified by the SC and constituted to appoint head of the state owned bodies would appoint NADRA chairman and in this record a summary had been sent to PM.
About the allegations giving threats to former NADRA chairman Tariq Malik’s family, Ch.Nisar said that he could never think to do this. He said that investigation of FIA and other intelligence agencies had revelled that such threatening calls were never made to his family.
The minister also directed the Interior Ministry and NADRA to refurbish and renovate the old National Assembly Hall situated inside the building of NADRA Headquarters and bring it into its original form.
Earlier, Acting Chairman NADRA Imtiaz Tajwar briefed the minister about operational matters relating to the authority, including national registration programme, innovative utilisation of database as well as major national and international projects.