Nadra fires three officials for corruption

ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has fired its three senior officers on account of corruption in procurement, The News has learnt.
According to well-placed sources in the authority, one director procurement, one deputy director and a superintendent procurement based in Nadra Headquarters, Islamabad have been caught red-handed making embezzlement of millions of rupees in procuring hardware, software and other equipment for Nadra. It is worth mentioning that the Nadra’s procurement budget is around Rs800 million per annum.
The sources said one of the three sacked employees made a confessional statement before the Chairman Nadra Usman Mobeen, who has launched a campaign against corrupt employees. “Basically, the complaints started pouring in from the vendors who were blackmailed by the said officers with the help of a racket of corrupt officers in Nadra and upon inquiry, one of the accused made a confessional statement”, said the sources.
There was nothing to investigate because everything was so clear. For example, 200 refurbished computers were procured for around Rs200,000 each while its market was one tenth of the procured price.
The sources maintained that UPSs were bought for Rs48000 each while the actual price was Rs18,000 each. “When these facts were presented before the accused, they confessed and tendered resignations to avoid departmental action against them”, said the sources. The venders were blackmailed by the racket in Nadra by creating hurdles in the release of payments and cancellation of orders of those who refused to bribe the said officers.
“Such practices are happening since the inception of Nadra but the said three officers have been caught red-handed because of complaints from the venders who were left with no option but to burst out upon never ending demands of the corrupt people’s racket operating in the Nadra”, the sources said. The three officers were handed over to the police from the Nadra headquarters which later asked the authority to move to the FIA against the corrupt officers.
The FIA is now conducting a thorough investigation into the scam. Of late, chairman Nadra had also initiated an inquiry against DG Networks on account of corruption. The DG, who is under suspension now, has also requested high-ups to accept his resignation to avoid departmental action and the long arm of the law.