The Lahore High Court (LHC) addressed a petition concerning the blocking of national identity cards (CNICs) on Thursday, establishing a new legal precedent regarding this issue. The court ruled that civil courts do not have the authority to block or cancel a citizen’s CNIC in civil litigation, deeming such actions unlawful.
The bench clarified that a CNIC represents a citizen’s identity and cannot be considered property. It emphasized that the identity card is owned by the federal government and cannot be transferred, sold, or inherited after the citizen’s death. The court noted that registration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) is mandatory for every citizen, with parents responsible for registering their children after birth.
This ruling came after Ali Ansari challenged a civil court’s decision to block his CNIC. The LHC’s Multan bench, presided over by Justice Tanvir Ahmed Shaikh, issued a detailed seven-page verdict ordering the unblocking of the CNIC within 15 days. The judgment reinforces that CNICs serve solely as personal identification documents issued by NADRA and are not subject to civil court restrictions.
