Daily Times

The Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered on Monday to form a special committee to ensure the issuance of computerised national identity cards (CNIC) to trans persons within 15 days.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar announced the decision during suo motu hearing on the matter at the court’s Lahore registry.

During the case proceedings, the CJP remarked that the CNICs should be issued through the one-window mechanism, adding that the SC will monitor progress in the matter.

He said that special courts would be formed for the security of the trans community. “The problems of the community cannot be solved until they are provided legal security,” the CJP said, adding, “We will not tolerate any kind of mistreatment or eve-teasing of the community.”

He observed that all trans persons with CNICs should be encouraged to vote. “Khawaja seras are an important part of our society,” he said, “We don’t know about government but we will try our best to provide all legal provisions to the trans persons.” A press release issued by the Supreme Court on the issue on Sunday had stated that the chief justice took notice after his visit to Lahore’s Foundation House, where several trans persons complained to him about non-issuance of CNICs.

As the SC issued the directive on Monday, members of the community gathered in front of the Lahore registry to thank the top court for taking notice of the matter. One of the community members said on the occasion that non-issuance of CNICs was not the only problem faced by the persecuted community. They said that the community was also deprived of employment opportunities, adding that the community aspired to become self-sufficient so that the society would start respecting them. “Even now, we are not considered equal citizens.”

Another trans person remarked, “This is a historical day for us. The entire community is grateful of the CJ for taking suo motu notice of this issue.”

In March, the Senate had unanimously approved the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2017. In the same month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government issued driving licences to two transgender persons.

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has already started providing three gender categories on the registration forms for CNICs to facilitate trans persons.

Published in Daily Times, June 19^th 2018.