PHC CJ says relevant depts responsible for issuing fake CNICs, passports to Afghans

PESHAWAR: Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court (PHC) Mazhar Alam Miankhel observed on Monday that the relevant institutions were responsible for the issuance of fake computerised national identity cards (CNICs) and passports to Afghan nationals.

He noted that Afghans easily got fake Pakistani CNICs and passports due to the negligence of the concerned institutions. “The concerned institutions have failed to perform duty as the Afghans have got the CNICs that created law and order situation. The concerned institutions are responsible for the prevailing situation,” the PHC chief justice remarked while hearing bail petition of an Afghan national who was arrested on the charge of having a fake Pakistani passport.

The beach headed by Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel dismissed the bail petition after hearing arguments from both the sides.During the course of hearing, Muhammad Safdar Khan, the standing counsel representing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), submitted that the FIA arrested an Afghan national Suleman at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar on March 3 this year and recovered a fake Pakistani passport from him as he was about to travel abroad.

The state lawyer requested the court not to release the Afghan national on bail till conclusion of the trial against him as he had committed a serious crimeHowever, the counsel for the Afghan national requested the court to release him on bail or issue his deportation order from the country. The court after hearing arguments dismissed the bail petition.

Separately, another single bench headed by Justice Daud Khan admitted for hearing a writ petition filed against acquittal of a sub-registrar on charges of preparing fake power of attorney on which precious land was transferred.

The bench issued notice to the sub-registrar for submission of his reply in the case. The bench was hearing writ petition of Agha Saqlain Haider filed through his lawyer Ameenur Rehman Yousafzai.

The lawyer submitted that the petitioner’s  uncle Imtiaz Ahmad had transferred land measuring 324 marlas of his mother Safeena Begum and her sisters Sagheera Begum and Surayya Begum located in Bhudni village in Peshawar in the name of his wife through fake power of attorney prepared by the sub-registrar Dost Muhammad Khan.

The lawyer added that the petitioner’s uncle and the sub-registrar had died.He said the trial court after the death of sub-registrar acquitted him in the case, adding it was illegal and against the law. He said land worth billions of rupees was transferred on fake power of attorney and his acquittal be declared illegal and against the law. The court admitted the petition and issued notice to the Revenue Department in the case.