IHC Issues Notice to Nadra Chief Over Passport Blocking Contempt Case

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday served a notice to the chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in connection with a contempt of court petition related to the blocking of a passport. The court has given NADRA a two-week deadline to submit a response.

The petition, submitted by counsel Saeed Yousuf Khan, emphasized that despite NADRA’s compliance with a previous court order to restore the petitioners’ identity cards, it did not revoke a directive that directed the passport directorate to suspend their passports.

Ahsan Yousuf Khan, the Advocate of the petitioner, told the court that although NADRA initially blocked the identity cards, they were later restored after a proper hearing. A report confirming the clearance was submitted to the court, with NADRA’s legal officer affirming the resolution.

However, a petitioner who was attempting to renew his passport for Umrah travel was informed that it was still prohibited as a result of NADRA’s past instructions to the passport office. The petitioners contended that the failure to revoke the blocking directive was a form of contempt of court.

They urged the court to order the immediate retraction of the blocking letter and to initiate contempt proceedings against both the NADRA chairman and the regional director.

The pertinent parties were issued notices by IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq, which necessitated a response within two weeks.