Tariq Malik has stepped down from his position as the chairman of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), a year before the completion of his three-year term, citing “polarized political environment” as a reason.
He presented resignation to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the meeting.
The decision comes following a controversy surrounding the leak of data related to the family of an army chief, which resulted in actions being taken against some NADRA employees under Malik’s leadership.
In his three-page resignation letter, Malik cited the challenging and polarized political environment as the reason for his departure. He expressed difficulty in maintaining integrity and independence in an environment where people are constantly categorized as “us versus them,” and political loyalty often takes precedence over competence.
Malik urged the prime minister not to appoint a serving or retired bureaucrat as his replacement but rather select a professional with a technical background. He emphasized the need for a thorough professional with expertise in technology and management, stating that NADRA cannot afford further political experimentation.
During his tenure at NADRA, Malik aimed to serve the country to the best of his abilities, beyond narrow party or institutional interests. He highlighted his extensive international experience, including his role as the chief technical adviser at the UNDP headquarters in New York and his contributions to the development of digital ID systems in various countries.
Tariq Malik was appointed as NADRA chairman for the second time in June 2021 by the previous PTI government. Reports suggest that he faced significant pressure from the interior minister to resign after the data leak incident involving NADRA officials and the army chief’s personal information came to light.
The prime minister acknowledged Malik’s services during their meeting, and it was reported that he requested Malik’s expertise in assisting the government to expand the tax net.
However, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah rejected the notion that Malik resigned under pressure.
