AS advised by the director-general of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), Karachi, and relevant official in charge of the mega centre located in North Nazimabad, I visited the centre along with my ailing wife and son at 11am on January 31. I was required to appear before a designated panel of officials to answer their questions regarding the final renewal of my wife`s CNIC as at the time of applying for the renewal of her CNIC on Dec 21, 2023, (Token No 6134), she had been told to submit proof of her Pakistani nationality as she had migrated from India in the mid-1960s.

Theinterestingaspectisthatshe had been issued a CNIC all these years, as should have been the case, without anybody ever asking for any such proof.

Now all of a sudden, her nationality was something that needed confirmation.

Anyway, we appeared before the panel and my wife answered all their questions, but the panel in its infinite wisdom refused to renew the CNIC, and repeated the requirement of a nationality certificate. During the whole session, I was not satisfied at all with the decision of the panel, and wondered why we were called to the centre when the whole matter was already in the knowledge of the panel and there was nothing new either in the questions or in the verdict.

When I raised the question, a lady member on the panel got enraged, and told me in a harsh tone not to be rude.

Rude? It was Nadra, and specifically the lady member herself, who had been rude. Her tone talking to a senior citizen in the presence of his wife and son was rude. The Nadra logic was rude.

Panel members representing Nadra must maintain decency and ethical norms while dealing with people, particularly senior citizens. Therefore, the higher authorities within Nadra, or elsewhere, should look into the matter and take a serious notice of the misbehaviour of the said member, and, more importantly, to have the CNIC of my wife issued, which is her right.

Hasan Afzaal Karachi