Transgenders take NADRA officials to court

Petitioners alleged discriminated against, denied basic amenities, relief through BISP and education.

KARACHI: The medical superintendents of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Civil Hospital, Karachi and the local National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) chief have been summoned by the Sindh High Court in a petition filed by transgenders Bindiya Rana and Sara Gill.

When the constitutional petition - formerly a complaint - came up for hearing on Wednesday before the bench headed by Chief Justice Sarmad Jalal Osmany, the petitioners submitted that no progress was made despite orders from the Chief Justice of Pakistan, directing health and NADRA officials to treat and help them.

They maintained that even a basic amenity such as a medical check-up is being denied to members of the Gender Interactive Alliance and other transgendered people.

The bench, after a short hearing, directed the medical superintendents to appear at the next hearing. The bench also issued notice to the NADRA chief for November 23.

The petitioners, alleging that government authorities discriminate against and neglect them, complained to the chief justice that they faced problems when it came to registering and acquiring national identity cards, getting funds from the Benazir Income Support Programme, medical treatment and education.

They appealed to the court to order the government to treat people such as them with parity and provide them free education, medical treatment and employment in government departments.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 11^th, 2010.