In a significant development, Chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), Tariq Malik, tendered his resignation on Tuesday, citing the prevailing charged and polarized political atmosphere as the reason for his decision. This came shortly after his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier in the day.
In his resignation letter, Malik expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead NADRA, highlighting the privilege of collaborating with exceptional individuals and institutions while acquiring valuable knowledge. However, he emphasized the growing difficulty of operating within an environment characterized by heightened political tensions and polarization.
“My values are more important than the compromises that are expected of me”
Tariq Malik
Malik submitted his resignation during his visit to the PM’s House for a meeting with Shehbaz Sharif. He is currently under investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding alleged involvement in a corruption scandal, according to insider sources.
The resignation letter emphasized the challenges professionals face in maintaining integrity and independence when constantly confined to an “us versus them” mentality, where political loyalty often takes precedence over competence.
This marked Malik’s second term as NADRA Chairman, with his initial tenure ending in 2013. While the N-league government initially removed him from the position, he was later reinstated through a court order. However, due to perceived pressure and threats, Malik eventually decided to resign.
Malik was the first individual to be appointed as NADRA Chairman through a competitive process, highlighting his qualifications for the role. Prior to his appointment in June 2021, he served as the Chief Technical Adviser at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). His contributions included spearheading the “ID for Development (ID4D) Program” on a global scale and formulating international standards for digital identity.
In his resignation letter, Malik appealed to the Prime Minister, urging against the appointment of a serving or retired bureaucrat as the new NADRA Chairman. Instead, he advocated for the selection of a qualified professional with a background in technology and management, underscoring the organization’s need for expertise in these areas.
Sources revealed that Malik’s name has been added to the no-fly list due to the ongoing FIA investigation against him. The agency has obtained details of his assets following the alleged corruption revelations in relation to the NADRA contract. Consequently, the FIA has summoned Malik for questioning on May 19 regarding the awarding of a contract to an international company at an inflated price.
During his recent tenure as Chairman, NADRA achieved several notable milestones, including the development of Pakistan’s first Automated Finger Identification System, the implementation of the Nishan Pakistan program for public-private partnerships based on digital ID, and the introduction of the “Tasdeeq Service” to assist elderly individuals with unreadable fingerprints, among other initiatives.