PESHAWAR – A fake CNIC scam has been uncovered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Afghan refugees are accused of exploiting loopholes in the country’s decades-old refugee policy to illegally obtain identity cards.
Investigations in Peshawar and adjoining tribal districts revealed that Afghan nationals allegedly secured Pakistani Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) by submitting forged documents. These included counterfeit domiciles, tenancy agreements, driving licences and fabricated land records.
Officials said the fraudulent files often contained backdated manual CNICs, with the fresh print and paper quality betraying their inauthenticity.
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Sources allege that the scam has been enabled by collusion between applicants and sections of the local administration. Verification processes, critics argue, are sometimes reduced to a formality, allowing Afghan refugees to bypass scrutiny.
Civil society groups have demanded a forensic audit of the identity papers issued under the 1978 refugee policy, warning that unchecked identity fraud poses risks to both security and governance.
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The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) acknowledged the problem and said it was tightening controls. Spokesperson Syed Shabbahat Ali stressed that verification of old CNICs is now conducted in coordination with provincial governments. He urged citizens to report suspicious entries via the Pak-ID mobile application.
Analysts warn that the fake CNIC scam could deepen mistrust over Pakistan’s handling of Afghan refugees, at a time when immigration and border management remain deeply contested issues.
