The Peshawar High Court on Monday barred authorities from deporting a man named Quaid-i-Azam after his national identity card was blocked, ordering the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to verify his citizenship before any further action is taken.

The case came before a two-member bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmed and Justice Inamullah Khan after Quaid-i-Azam challenged Nadra’s decision to block his Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).

The petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Saifullah Mohib Kakakhel, argued that his client is a Pakistani citizen who runs businesses in Pakistan and Dubai and has been paying taxes regularly.

The lawyer argued that blocking his client’s identity card had caused serious difficulties, affecting both his business activities and daily life.

He further submitted that Nadra had asked the petitioner to produce his uncle before its verification board, despite other members of his family already possessing valid Pakistani identity cards.

Appearing for Nadra, Assistant Director (Legal) Shahid Imran Gigiyani informed the court that the authority had submitted its written response.

He said the petitioner’s identity card had been blocked because it was classified as “suspicious” during the verification process.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench directed the petitioner to appear before Nadra’s verification board to complete the verification process.

The court also restrained the authorities from deporting the petitioner until the verification proceedings are concluded.