The Supreme Court has deemed the Sindh High Court's directive to block a citizen's national identity card in order to enforce a court judgment as unlawful. The Supreme Court ruled that depriving a citizen of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) equates to violating their fundamental right to life.
In a three-page ruling issued by Justice Muneeb Akhtar, it was emphasized that a national identity card is not a luxury but a fundamental necessity for leading a normal life. The judgment questioned whether courts would also order the disconnection of essential services like electricity and water for debt recovery purposes.
The Supreme Court pointed out that there is no provision in Section 51 of the Code of Civil Procedure that allows for the blocking of a national identity card. Therefore, without a specific provision in the law, no court has the authority to issue such an order.
Additionally, the Supreme Court clarified that an amendment introduced by the Peshawar High Court to the Code of Civil Procedure does not have jurisdiction in Sindh.
The case originated from a 2016 trial court ruling in a property dispute where the petitioner was directed to pay a specified amount. When the petitioner failed to make the payment, the trial court ordered the blocking of his national identity card, a decision which was upheld by the Sindh High Court. The Supreme Court has now overturned this ruling.
