Daily Times

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the federal and provincial governments on inclusion of column in census form demanded by transgender community in a petition submitted at the court.

The court also issued notices to Election Commission of Pakistan and National Database and Registration Authority and ordered them to file their comments by October 20.

A division bench headed by Justice Yahya Afridi while hearing the writ filed by Riaz alias Farzana, Sammar Ahmad alias Chocolate and 10 others through their counsels Barrister Hashim Raza and Gul Rahman Mohmand, was told that census was going to be conducted after 18 years, but the government has not included a separate column for people who are transgender.

The counsels adopted that it was the responsibility of Bureau of Statistics to conduct census which included their gender.

They prayed the bench to direct respondents to amend the census form by adding a new column for them so their statistics could be revealed and based on the figures, they could secure appropriate shares in resources.

They said forthcoming census should be suspended till forms were amended and a column for petitioners included.

Petitioners’ counsel argued that minister for social welfare claimed there were 350 people who were transgender, no census had been done to determine exact numbers.

They prayed implementation of KP Government’s announcement of 2 [er cent job quota and an increase in the promised amount Rs 200 million as this was not enough.

They also prayed the bench to order the government to announce a package for their welfare and issuance of their CNICs without further delay.

“The petitioners are at the age of 18 but are not issued CNICs by National Database and Registration Authority since their parents are unwilling to recognize them,” they argued.

According to the petition, former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, had recognized transgender persons in 2009 and NADRA was ordered to issue identity cards to them.

The petition stated due to their gender, they were either expelled from their homes by their parents or were forced to leave due to harassment and mental torture by family members, neighbours and society. They urged PHC to ensure their rights were granted and protected.