A legislative body, on Wednesday, rejected an amendment proposed by a member of National Assembly (MNA) from Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali bill, to a bill under which National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had blocked the computerized national identity cards (CNICs). He put forward a bill to unblock about 155000 CNICs previously cancelled by NADRA over the advice of law enforcement agencies. Most of the Amendment NADRA bill had already been implemented, except the blocked CNIC clause. NADRA officials had noted that most of such cards belonged to Afghan refugees. With Raja Khurram Shahzad Nawaz in the chair, National Assembly Standing Committee on Interior urged for procedural changes for the restoration of blocked CNICs in a meeting held in parliament house. The panel rejected the amendment after the briefing of NADRA’s acting chairman, who opposed the suggestion. MNA Chitrali staged walkout to lodge protest The official said that the repatriation of Afghan refugees had been started, which would be completed within two to three years. He said that the institution was already implementing the procedures mentioned in the presented bill. Maulana Chitrali expressed outrage over the briefing and remarked that assemblies should be closed if all recommendations were being implemented as claimed by the official. He maintained that injustices were being committed against those whose cards had been blocked as their families were suffering tremendously. “Whenever a public representative presented a bill for people welfare, the department raised several questions over it and tried their level best to stop it,” he added. MMA’s MNA lodged a protest and walked out of the committee. After being appraised by officials from the concerned department, the NA body rejected the NADRA (Amendment) Bill. Moreover, Passport Director-general, Ishrat Ali, told the committee that the department was not establishing any new offices since it already had facilities in every district. There were a total of 173 passport office across the country, he maintained. The director-general also assured the committee of no delays in the issuance of passports while making note of smooth operation in the department. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) legislator, Syed Agha Rafiullah, objected to the DG Passport and said that he should spot the location of passport office in Malir district. He responded that he had paid a visit to Malir’s passport office last month. Rafiullah said he would like to challenge through committee’s chairman that no passport office existed in Malir district. The committee also discussed the proposed developmental budget for 2019-20 for Ministry of Interior. It was informed that the ministry had demanded Rs 31.050 billion under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2019-20 for 222 projects. As many as 65 projects were ongoing with a cost of Rs 14.225 billion and 157 new schemes. The committee approved the proposed PSDP for the interior ministry for the upcoming fiscal year.