The High Court held that matters relating to CNICs did not fall within the jurisdiction of the civil courts.
LAHORE:
In a judgment on a petition filed by citizen Ali Ansari, the Lahore High Court (LHC) said that civil courts do not have the power to order blocking or cancellation of a citizen’s Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).
Justice Tanveer Ahmad Sheikh delivered a detailed seven-page judgment, setting aside a civil court’s decision that led to the blocking of the petitioner’s CNIC. The court termed the action illegal and ordered that the CNIC be reinstated within 15 days.
In its judgment, the High Court held that matters relating to CNICs did not fall within the jurisdiction of the civil courts.
He stressed that the CNIC is not a form of property but a fundamental proof of the citizen’s identity, which cannot be considered transferable or inherited.
The court further observed that CNICs are issued and regulated exclusively by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), which functions under federal authority. He said each individual must register independently with NADRA to establish their identity.
Referring to NADRA regulations, the court noted that citizens are required to obtain a CNIC when they reach the age of 18, while parents are responsible for registering their children at birth if they are below 18 years of age.
