Daily Times

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah has sought recommendations from a doctor regarding the sex change case of 24-year-old girl Ayesha, and adjourned the hearing till next date.

The petition was filed by Ayesha’s mother Shama Begum, who requested the court to grant permission for her daughter’s sex change operation. The chief justice directed the petitioner to present doctor’s recommendations till November 24 to support her petition.

The petitioner submitted that her daughter was experiencing extremely painful bouts owing to her changing gynecological features. She submitted that Ayesha was admitted in a hospital where doctors conducted several medical examination tests.

She said that several ultrasounds and examinations had confirmed that her daughter was undergoing sexual transition and needed urgent care. The petitioner said that when she had requested the doctors to change her gender, they refused to do so, fearing legal action against them.

She submitted that it was necessary for her daughter to have a sex reassignment surgery as the doctors had confirmed that her daughter was losing her female reproductive organs and needed a sex-change surgery. He said that sex reassignment was a surgical procedure by which a transgender person’s physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered of their identified gender.

She requested that orders should be issued for allowing her daughter to undergo sex change surgery. She also pleaded the court to direct the Punjab health secretary ensure smooth transition of her daughter to a man.

A law officer, appearing on behalf of the Punjab government, submitted that ultrasound reports attached with the petition did not clarify that it suggested sex change operation.

The chief justice inquired the petitioner counsel to present written recommendations of the doctor suggesting the required surgery. The petitioner’s counsel sought time to submit it before the court.