ISLAMABAD; Authorities have identified more than 250,000 fake Pakistani national identity cards (NICs), most of which were being used by Afghan nationals, through a special verification software developed to detect irregularities in family trees, sources said on Wednesday.
According to officials, the new software analysed family records and flagged inconsistencies in household data. The investigation revealed that a large number of Afghan nationals had been unlawfully inserted into the family trees of Pakistani citizens, particularly in the districts of Pishin, Chaman, and Quetta.
Sources said the manipulation was allegedly carried out with the help of local agents who facilitated the process in exchange for large sums of money. Many affected citizens were reportedly unaware that their family records had been tampered with.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has since started automatically blocking fake CNICs flagged by the system. Holders of these cards have been instructed to visit NADRA offices for verification, and unverified CNICs will be permanently cancelled after the deadline expires.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Police arrested 69 Afghan nationals living illegally in the federal capital during a major search and combing operation led by SSP Operations Muhammad Shoaib Khan. The operation, carried out in the Sabzi Mandi area, involved checks on 221 people, 65 shops, 43 motorcycles, and 31 vehicles.
The Capital Police stated that such operations are part of a broader campaign to curb crime and identify illegal residents. The Inspector General of Police, Islamabad, has ordered similar large-scale operations across the district to dismantle criminal networks and remove undocumented foreign residents.
