High-level Sacking

High-level Sacking – After dismantling of the leading political party the axe has now started to fall on state employees considered to be sympathetic to the said political party. Tariq Malik, Chairman NADRA reportedly resigned from his position though his departure was nothing less than an ignominious sacking. The resignation came months after a controversy over the leak of sensitive personal data entailing action against some employees by him. Though Malik tried to give impression of resigning his post after meeting the PM citing the difficulties he experienced in discharge of his function in a charged and polarised political environment yet it was reported that his name was placed on the ECL. He had reportedly been facing immense pressure from the interior minister to resign after reports emerged that some officials of NADRA had been found involved in leaking personal data of army chief and his family. Son of reputed educationist Fateh Muhammad Malik who had political leanings towards Pakistan People’s Party, Tariq Malik was appointed as head of NADRA for the second time in 2021 during PTI regime. It is curious to note that an apparently innocuous government body like NADRA has become controversial enough to witness sacking of its head. The Weekender