ISLAMABAD: The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has verified information about 37,787 displaced families (about 275,000 people).

At least 17,564 families claiming to have been displaced from South Waziristan were declared ineligible for assistance because their records showed multiple registration, invalid ID cards or because they were not from that tribal agency.

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), families rejected on grounds of invalid cards or because they did not hail from that area could appeal against the decision.

According to a handout, 54,333 families were registered in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank between August and November.

Nadra has verified details of about 67 per cent of applications filed by the displaced people. About 20 per cent have been rejected because of registration issue, and about 11 per cent over concerns about authenticity of ID cards. About two per cent of the applicants were found to be not from South Waziristan.

‘With the conclusion of the verification process, the registration of displaced people from South Waziristan is now largely complete. No new application for registration has been lodged over the past week,’ said Mr Mengesha Kebede, UNHCR’s representative in Pakistan.

However, the registration desk at all centres in Dera Ismail Khan and Tank will remain open for the time being to assist people who have problems with their ID cards.

(News sourced from: Dawn News)