Un-renewed

I have been trying to get my spouse’s CNIC renewed since December 2023 and have already written several letters to this paper regarding this matter. The renewal has been held up by Nadra’s demand for a nationality certificate, even though my spouse was able to previously get a CNIC number without any such requirement. Although I launched a complaint with the federal ombudsman’s regional office in Karachi and the Ombudsman ruled in my wife’s favour, Nadra remains admant in its refusal to renew her CNIC. Last week, I had a meeting with the director, passports & immigration and briefed him about the requirement of nationality certificate but, regrettably, he also expressed his inability to issue the same and gave me a very lengthy and complicated explanation as to why this was so and advised me to go back to the ombudsman’s regional office for remedy.

My spouse is desirous of visiting Karbala and Saudi Arabia to perform Ziaraat of the Holy places and Umrah but non-renewal of her CNIC is an impediment in this regard. We are law abiding senior citizens of Pakistan but, instead of resolving the issue, the authorities are unnecessarily creating hurdles. I humbly request the concerned authorities to kindly look into the matter and help get the CNIC renewed.

Hasan Afzaal

Karachi