Verification requirement for passports, CNICs of Hazara community abolished

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan has abolished the verification requirement for the issuance of passports and identity cards of the Hazara community, ARY News reported on Wednesday.

A three-member bench – headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial – issued the orders while hearing a suo motu notice against target killings of Hazara community.

During the hearing, Justice Athar Minallah inquired about the status of the community’s problems. To which, the community’s lawyer said issues related to bank accounts and National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) are still unresolved.

Meanwhile, Additional Attorney General (AAG) apprised the court that the federal government had submitted its reply and that the problems of creating bank accounts, passports, and CNICs for the Hazara community had been resolved.

“As a result, Hazara community members will no longer need any kind of verification for issuance of passports and identity cards,” the AAG maintained.

Moreover, the Supreme Court also ordered that the overseas members of the community arriving from Europe and Australia should not be harassed at Quetta Airport.

It also directed interior ministry to cooperate with the Balochistan government to recover Ali Raza, who had been missing.

Later, the apex court disposed of the case on the assurance of federal government assurance that it would continue to work towards solving the remaining issues faced by the community.