SADIQABAD (Adnan Mirza Correspondent CN):
For most people, proving they are alive is something that never crosses their mind. For residents of Lakar Wali Panj Chak near Sadiqabad, it has become an exhausting battle with bureaucracy.
When Falak Sher visited a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office to obtain B-Forms for his children, he expected a routine process. Instead, he was confronted with a shocking revelation: according to official records, he had already died.
Standing at the counter in person, Falak Sher found himself in the unusual position of trying to convince officials that he was, in fact, alive.
The issue allegedly stems from events following his divorce from his first wife. According to information provided by officials, a death certificate was reportedly obtained and his death was subsequently recorded in government records. As a result, databases maintained by relevant authorities now identify him as deceased.
The consequences have been far-reaching. Unable to correct the record immediately, Falak Sher has spent days visiting multiple government offices in an effort to restore his legal identity. Until the error is resolved, he says he cannot complete documentation for his children or access services that require valid identification records.
“I am alive and walking into these offices myself, yet the official record says I am dead,” Falak Sher said. “I have been going from one office to another, but no one seems willing to resolve the issue.”
The case has raised serious questions about the procedures used to register deaths and update official records. Legal experts note that death registrations are expected to follow verification processes that include supporting documentation and official confirmation. If fraudulent documents were used to secure a death registration, those responsible could face legal consequences under laws relating to forgery, fraud, and manipulation of official records.
Experts also argue that if authorities approved the registration without completing the required verification process, the matter could warrant both administrative and legal scrutiny.
Beyond one man’s ordeal, the incident has highlighted broader concerns about data integrity and citizens’ rights. Public records form the basis for everything from identity documents and family registration to property ownership and access to government services. Errors or fraudulent entries can therefore have life-altering consequences.
Residents and community members have called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances that led to the registration of Falak Sher’s death and for swift action to restore his identity.
For now, the Sadiqabad resident remains trapped in a paradox: alive in reality, but officially dead on paper.
