Sharbat Gula case: NADRA officials freed on bail

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok): Two former officials of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), accused of issuing the Pakistani Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to National Geographic’s famed ‘Afghan Girl’, Sharbat Gula, have been granted bail.

Peshawar High Court judge Justice Yahya Afridi ordered the release of Emad Khan and Mohsin Ehsan on bail on Friday after hearing arguments from the defence counsel and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) lawyer.

The pre-arrest bail of another ex-official of NADRA, Palwasha Afridi, has already been confirmedin the case. The petitioners’ lawyer, Amir Javed, submitted his clients had played no role in verification of the documents that led to issuance of the CNIC to Sharbat Gula.

Despite aversion from the FIA lawyer, the judge granted the petitioners.On October 20, the FIA had registered the case against the three former NADRA officials for issuing CNICs to Sharbat Gula and two other Afghans, shown as her sons.

Sharbat Gula, arrested by the FIA on October 26, was deported to her home country on November 9 on completion of her 10 days prison sentence and payment of Rs1100,000 in fine. On her arrival in Kabul, President Ashraf Ghani gave her keys of a flat.

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