A major inquiry has been launched against several former top-tier figures at the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), including ex-chairman Tariq Malik, over alleged large-scale financial misdeeds tied to the authority’s smart identity card program.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is probing what it suspects to be a pattern of financial misconduct and procurement irregularities that allegedly resulted in millions of dollars in public funds being mishandled.
The inquiry stems from a report submitted by Transparency International, which pointed out significant flaws in the way contracts were awarded and funds utilized during the execution of the high-value project.
The registered FIR implicates 13 individuals, including key project management officials, for reportedly bypassing government procurement norms outlined by the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).
Investigators believe this enabled a particular vendor to receive inflated payments and favorable treatment during the card procurement process.
Findings suggest that NADRA paid well above market value for the smart cards, with the bidding process allegedly rigged on more than one occasion to benefit a chosen supplier. This manipulation, the FIA says, caused notable losses to the national treasury.
Insiders familiar with the matter have confirmed that the case encompasses allegations of intentional procedural deception, authority misuse, and criminal negligence by the accused officials.
