KARACHI: As the result of Special Branch AramBagh stopping conducting inquiries for NADRA thousands of people are suffering in Karachi due to blockage of their CNICs. Nadra used to send the required inquiries to the Special Branch of the police but recently after their refusal the same task is now being referred to Intelligence Bureau (IB) . Inspector, Special Branch Ghulam Dastageer told Daily Times that we were receiving cases in bulk from NADRA; even ten to twelve thousand cases were being forwarded to Special Branch in a year. Police officials have revealed that NADRA was insisting on conducting the inquires on urgent basis which was not possible for us since as we are under staffed. Approximately four months ago while briefing the Senate Standing Committee Chairman NADRA, Usman Mobin informed that the authority is working on a new standard operating procedure (SOP), which will improve the current process of CNIC’s blockage. NADRA will now require solid proofs against any person before blocking their identity card. He also reveled that over 375,000 CNICs of suspected individuals from all over the country have been blocked; 175,000 of these were are awaiting verification by intelligence agencies while over 52,000 CNICs were awaiting clearance by Nadra. He said 117,459 CNICs had also been seized from foreign nationals. On other hand NADRA Spokesman said that the all blocked CNIC cases have been sent to the concerned committees headed by the Deputy Commissioner. While Daily Times contacted to DC South he acknowledged and informed that we have received the list and will start working on them soon. Published in Daily Times, August 12th 2017.