Citizenship Woes.

The National Database and Registration Authority's (NADRA) move to declare Hafiz Hamdullah an alien and not a Pakistani citizen is devoid of all sense. How were the background checks never conducted before for an individual who has held some of the highest offices in government - a former Member of the National Assembly, a provincial minister and a senator till March last year? How did he get nominated or elected to any of these offices if he was never a citizen, to begin with?

As part of a family that has held key positions in both the bureaucratic and political set-up of the country - his father was an employee of the education department and a son is employed by the Pakistan Army - how is it that NADRA completely failed to recognise the citizenship question? At best, this sudden decision reflects incompetence; someone failed to do their due diligence and completely missed his status previously or have wrongfully identified him as an alien now. At worst, Hamdullah's citizenship question was investigated earlier and was ignored, only to be brought up when he was seen to be creating issues for the sitting government, as leverage against him.

Either way, this is not a good look for both NADRA and the government. Background checks must be followed to the letter and not used as a means to pressurise individuals when they are seen to putting themselves at odds with the state...