PESHAWAR: Scores of people hailing from Mohmand Agency have expressed concerns over delay in verification of their blocked Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and urged federal government to expedite the confirmation process to enable them to continue their routine business.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday, Malik Abdullah Khan said that majority of tribal people in Mohmand Agency were facing the problem but officials of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) were not paying attention to their complaints.

Accompanied by a number of tribesmen, he alleged that government had issued CNICs to foreigners, who were freely roaming and doing business but the citizens of the country were deprived of the national identity cards for no reason.

Mr Khan said that the people possessing fake identity cards purchased land properties and were doing all kinds of businesses with no restriction on them by thelaw enforcement agencies but local people were facing problems in getting CNICs.

He alleged that Afghan nationals living in the tribal regions also possessed fake identity cards but relevant officials were supporting them. `These foreigners have also disputes with local people over lands.

They are paying bribe to the officials concerned for getting their problems resolved,` he added.

Mast Khan, another resident of Mohmand Agency, said that he had used his CNIC for Haj and business during the last many years but when he contacted Nadra about two years ago for its renewal, the card was blocked.

`I have been visiting offices of relevant officials but the veriñcation process has been delayed on different pretexts,` he added.

Other tribesmen also complained that they were unable to perform Haj and Umrah or strike any business deal in the country as their CNICs were blocked.

They demanded of Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to order the officials concerned to expedite the veriñcation process and save them from taking roundsofthe Nadraofñce.