Pak's Nadra says its database can't be shared with any nation on any individual's wish

Islamabad, Sept 4(ANI): Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has vehemently denied that its massive database of Pakistani citizens could be replicated or shared with any country or entity on the wish of an individual.

According to media reports, attributed to whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik had offered to share the entire Nadra record with the United States in 2009, so that it could easily track anyone who it suspected to be involved in terror-mongering.

Reacting angrily to the media reports, Nadra's Deputy Chairman Tariq Malik asserted that this could not be done on the wish of an individual.

"The Nadra security control mechanisms do not permit an individual, notwithstanding his authority or position, to compromise its theft or to give consent to share with data replication," Tariq said, when approached by The News for his comment on the media reports.

WikiLeaks said that welcoming US aid, the Interior Minister had offered to share the Nadra database of Pakistani citizens with America, and proposed making public a model of the mutual agreement to 'appease' the people of Pakistan, the paper said.

Tariq pointed out that the database belonged to the people of Pakistan, who owned it, and hence it was a collective bearing agreement with the people.

"We guard that privacy with passion and would not like anybody to even entertain that thought of sharing it," he added.

Referring to the media reports, he cautioned that such kind of revelations and statements could severely affect the international business that Nadra was undertaking, and strengthen its competitors' hands. (ANI)