Pakistan: Whether the Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) number changes when a person gets married; information added or changed on the CNIC after marriage (2003-July 2013)
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official at the Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto stated that Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) are issued by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) (Pakistan 15 July 2013).
Sources indicate that CNIC numbers cannot be changed (ibid.; Evangelical Asian Church 18 July 2013). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of the Evangelical Asian Church in Toronto, Ontario provided information regarding CNIC numbers based on an interview that an Evangelical Asian Church representative in Pakistan conducted with NADRA in Pakistan (ibid.). The Evangelical Asian Church representative stated that
Pakistan changed manual ID cards to Computerized National Identity Cards and issued new ID numbers. All manual cards were replaced by CNIC cards with new numbers. CNIC cards contain the manual card number...
NADRA launched the Multi-Biometric National Identity Card project developed in conformance with international security documentation issuance practices in the year 2000. The program replaced the paper-based Personal Identity System of Pakistan that had been in use since 1971 ... A unique 13-digit number [is] assigned at birth when the parents complete the child's birth registration form (Form RG-2, commonly known as B-Form), and then a National Identity Card (NIC) with the same number is issued at the age of 18. Until 2001, NIC numbers were 11 digits long. In 2001-2002, the authority started issuing 13-digit NIC numbers along with their new biometric ID cards. The old manual NIC numbers are invalid as of 1 January 2004. (ibid.)
The official at the Consulate General of Pakistan also stated that a CNIC card is issued when a person is 18 years old (15 July 2013).
Sources indicate that a person's CNIC number does not change after marriage (Pakistan 15 July 2013; Evangelical Asian Church 18 July 2013). However, according to information compiled by the Evangelical Asian Church representative, in addition to the CNIC number, a CNIC card also bears a "family tree number," which is different than the CNIC number (ibid.). He said that after marriage, a woman's family tree number changes (ibid.). He further explained that, after marriage, when a woman becomes a member of her husband's family, her "husband's family number will be allotted to her" and that this change is reflected on her CNIC card (ibid.). The official at the Consulate General of Pakistan said that "[a]n ID number is issued by NADRA in the form of [a] Family Registration Certificate (FRC)" (15 July 2013). According to NADRA, FRCs are "documents issued to nationals of Pakistan highlighting the family tree structure of the applicant" (Pakistan n.d.).
The official at the Consulate General of Pakistan said that a man or woman's marital status "can only be changed ... by application through NADRA" (15 July 2013). According to the Evangelical Asian Church representative, after marriage, a woman can make changes to her surname, address, marital status (updated to married), and family tree number (to get her husband's family tree number) by going to the NADRA office (18 July 2013). The Evangelical Asian Church representative said that the marital status of both men and women can be updated to "married" (Evangelical Asian Church 18 July 2013).
The official at the Consulate General of Pakistan said that for a woman, a CNIC contains her father's name, but after marriage this changes to her husband's name (Pakistan 15 July 2013). The official added that, for men, the CNIC contains his father's name, and this does not change after marriage (ibid.). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, an academic who is a PhD candidate at McGill University and who specializes in Islamic law and the history of Pakistan also said that "[a] married woman's CNIC contains her husband's name as well as her relationship to him. A married man's CNIC contains his father's name" (Academic 17 July 2013).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Academic, McGill University. 17 July 2013. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate.
Evangelical Asian Church, Toronto. 18 July 2013. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by a representative.
Pakistan. 15 July 2013. Consulate General of Pakistan in Toronto. Correspondence sent to the Research Directorate by an official.
_____. N.d. National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA). "FRC." <http://www.nadra.gov.pk/index.php/products/certificates/frc> [Accessed 18 July 2013]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: Attempts to contact the following individuals and organizations were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Lawyer in Lahore; Pakistan - High Commission in Ottawa, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA); Social Policy and Development Centre (Pakistan).
Internet sites: ecoi.net; Factiva; Pakistan - Ministry of Interior; United Nations - Refworld; United States - Department of State.