The FIA has initiated a corruption probe against former NADRA chairman Tariq Malik.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated a prominent case against former National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chairman Tariq Malik and 12 other senior officials concerning purported financial misconduct amounting to millions of dollars in the authority’s smart card initiative.
The lawsuit, encompassing grave claims of corruption, was instigated by a complaint from Transparency International, which highlighted dubious procurement methods and financial mismanagement inside the multibillion-rupee smart ID card effort.
The first information report (FIR) alleges that the suspects, including the chief project officer and other top officials, have committed serious infractions of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PEPRA) legislation. The FIA asserts that these infractions led to exorbitant and unwarranted payments to a favored company in the smart card procurement process.
The inquiry disclosed that NADRA compensated substantially elevated charges compared to market rates for the acquisition of smart cards. Authorities assume that the procurement process was repeatedly manipulated to benefit a certain vendor, resulting in significant financial losses to the national treasury.
According to sources within the FIA, the case encompasses allegations of criminal wrongdoing, misuse of power, and intentional misrepresentation in official processes.
