An overseas Pakistani, allegedly declared dead in official records by his own family to seize his property, has approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) seeking justice.
Imran Malik filed a constitutional petition stating that his family fraudulently obtained a fake death certificate and used it to have him recorded as deceased in the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) records.
According to the fabricated certificate, Malik was declared dead in April 2024.
The case was heard by Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho, who questioned how the petitioner managed to return to Pakistan if he had officially been declared dead.
Malik’s lawyer informed the court that his passport had not been cancelled, which allowed him to travel back to Pakistan. However, due to his CNIC being blocked, he is now unable to return abroad.
The lawyer told the court that Malik had been living overseas and returned to Pakistan in October after four years. Upon attempting to open a bank account, he was informed that his CNIC had been blocked.
When he contacted NADRA, he was shocked to learn that official records showed him as deceased since April 2024.
The lawyer further stated that a criminal FIR has been registered against the family members involved in the alleged fraud. He added that Malik’s siblings had pressured their mother and attempted to deprive him of his rightful inheritance.
The petitioner requested the court to direct NADRA to restore his Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).
Justice Yusuf Ali Saeed observed that the court would examine the matter strictly within the scope of NADRA’s legal authority. The court subsequently issued notices to NADRA and other relevant parties and sought their responses within four weeks.
Source: ARY News
