Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday ordered issuance of national identity cards (CNIC) to transgenders within 15 days.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar while heading a suo moto notice case pertaining to non-issuance of CNIC’s to transgenders, questioned the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Usman Mubeen if CNIC’s were being issued.

To this, NADRA Chairman responded that 90 per cent of the cards have been issued so far, adding that mobile registration units were also being used for the provision of CNICs.

CJP Nisar remarked that he was expecting that all CNICs would have been issued by today, adding that issuance of cards was not limited to Punjab.

Upon this, Mubeen informed the court that a meeting of representatives from all provinces will be held  this month.

Thee apex court Judge directed that Justice (r) Arif be made head of a special committee ensuring issuance of CNICs, adding that he had earlier asked that a medical certificate should not be asked for as it is not part of NADRA’s policy.

Transgender activist Almas Bobby told CJP that they were not on board on  any meetings,  to which Nisar said that he was hearing the case on basis of human rights.

CJP adjourned the hearing of the case for an indefinite period after ordering a 15 days deadline for issuance of CNICs.

Earlier on June 18, CJP had ordered to form a special committee to ensure issuance of CNICs to transgender persons.