Students stage protest against new CNICs

JALALABAD (Pajhwok): Hundreds of university students on Tuesday staged a protest in the capital of eastern Nangarhar province against the ommission of Afghan nationality from the new computerised national identity cards (CNICs).

The Wolesi Jirga — or lower house of parliament — approved a draft law on computerised ID cards in July 2013 after furious debates, walkouts and physical clashes between lawmakers.

Under the law having seven chapters and 39 articles, computerised ID cards will be issued to all Afghans in three phases. The lower house had endorsed some controversial articles of the law despite opposition from some lawmakers.

Last week, despite removal of word “Afghan” from the bill, the president signed it into law, sparking protests in some provinces.

About 1,000 Nangarhar University students staged a protest demonstration in Jalalabad and blocked the Kabul-Jalalabad highway.

They asked President Ashraf Ghani to review his decision and mention word Afghan in CNICs, otherwise they would continue protesting.

Samiullah, one of the protesting students, told Pajhwok Afghan News they would never accept ID cards until Afghan nationality was mentioned in them.

“An ID card without nationality mentioned in it is of no use. We will not accept these cards and we strongly reject them,” he said.

He said the leaders should pursue the issue and they would prolong their protests if distribution of the cards was launched without mentioning the word Afghan.

Another protestor, Khalilullah, warned if the president did not meet their demand, they would not call off their protest. He warned of boycotting the government if the word Afghan was not mentioned in the ID cards.

The protestors issued a statement asking the government to add word Afghan to the new CNICs.

President Ghani reportedly met on Tuesday representatives of the protesting people, but it remained unknown what decision was taken on dealing with the issue.

ma/mud