At Kandahar E-ID Card Office, applicant asked for bribe

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Electronic Identity (E-ID) card applicants in southern Kandahar province complain of corruption, alleging they have been asked for bribes.

The Kandahar Youth Alliance, a local anti-corruption watchdog, unearthed a corruption case in the E-ID Card Office, where an applicant was asked for money in return for the issuance of his and his family E-ID cards.

The watchdog has been established with support from the ACTION project of UNDP and the Movement for Protection Organisation (MPO).

Nasibullah, the applicant, complained of corruption at the Deportment of Electronic ID Cards (tazkira) to the Kandahar Youth Alliance.

He said: “I have been trying to get electronic ID cards for myself and my family. But due to   corruption, I have been unable to get the cards in a month.”

Electronic ID Card Department employees asked him to pay them if he wanted to receive the cards, Nasibullah claimed.

“I am not financially strong enough to pay the bribe. Therefore, I have approached you. Please save me and other people from corruption.”

Subsequently, the Kandahar Youth Alliance conducted a coordination meeting with officials of the E-ID Card Deportment on the corruption case.

Corruption is one of the most significant factors undermining peace building and reconstruction in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Compact and the Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS) both cite corruption as a major impediment to the country’s development.

In Kandahar province, people face many problems to receive electronic ID cardss (tazkira).

The E-ID Card Deportment called an emergency meeting and shared the corruption case with all staff members.

All staffers were warned of strict action if found involved in corruption. Local police were asked to probe this case and unmask the personnel who wanted to soil the department’s image in the eyes of Kandahar residents.

After the meeting, the person responsible called Nasibullah and apologised to him for the belated response to E-ID card issuance. He promised Nasibullah the cards would be delivered as soon as possible.

With support from the ACTION project of UNDP Afghanistan, Movement for Protection Organization (MPO) has established an anti-corruption youth Alliance in Kandahar province on April 30, 2021 and through this council has provided anti-corruption training to the people of the community and also distributed brochures to the people of the community.

Corruption is one of the most significant factors undermining peace building and reconstruction in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan Compact and the Afghan National Development Strategy (ANDS) both cite corruption as a major impediment to the country’s development.

nh/mud