An overseas Pakistani, who was falsely declared dead in National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) records by his own family, has returned to Pakistan and approached the Sindh High Court for redress.
Imran Malik filed a petition claiming that his family used a fake death certificate to record him as deceased in April 2024, allegedly to seize his property. During the hearing, Justice Abdul Mobeen Lakho questioned how Malik managed to return to Pakistan despite being officially listed as dead.
Malik’s lawyer explained that his passport had not been cancelled, which allowed him to travel back, but he is currently unable to return abroad. Malik, who had been living overseas, returned to Pakistan in October after four years. Upon attempting to open a bank account, he discovered that his identity card had been blocked, and NADRA informed him of the false death record.
A criminal FIR has been registered against the family members involved, as Malik’s siblings reportedly pressured their mother and attempted to deprive him of his inheritance. His lawyer requested that the court direct NADRA to restore Malik’s Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC).
Justice Yusuf Ali Saeed stated that the court would examine the matter within NADRA’s jurisdiction and issued notices to NADRA and other relevant parties, requiring their response within four weeks.
