90 per cent of over 52,000 prisoners in Pak’s Punjab province have no identity card!

LAHORE - Out of more than 52,000 prisoners in Pakistan’s Punjab province, only ten per cent possess identity cards, a survey conducted by an intelligence agency has revealed, according to sources.

After exposing the facts, the intelligence agency declared the situation alarming and suggested the authorities concerned take immediate steps in this regard, as non-identification of prisoners- especially those involved in heinous crimes- could become a challenge for law enforcement agencies, the Daily Times reported.

Following these revelations, the Punjab government has directed the Punjab Prisons Inspector General Kokab Nadeem Warraich, all divisional commissioners, district coordination officers and other officials concerned to take necessary steps on an emergency basis.

When contacted, Warraich said that he had directed all jail superintendents to ensure the correct identification of the prisoners.

It has been made compulsory for all the prisoners below 18 years of age to get their “B Forms” made from NADRA, while the older ones have been directed to present new Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to the jail authorities, and those with no identity cards to get new ones made, he added.

The IG also said that after some cards were revealed as fake, he directed all jail superintendents to get CNICs of all the prisoners verified from NADRA for assurance of original identities of the prisoners. (ANI)