SC pushes to implement orders for eunuchs’ rights

CJP criticises parents who disown transgender children.

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the federal and provincial social welfare departments and the commissioner of Islamabad to implement its previous orders that eunuchs be granted their full rights as citizens and told them to submit compliance reports at the next hearing in four weeks.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Ghulam Rabbani also directed all relevant officials to assist the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) in registering eunuchs. The court appreciated the efforts of the governments of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab, and said that the Balochistan government will also soon recognise the rights.

Petitioner Aslam Khaki told the court that the NADRA chairman and deputy chairman had been trying to implement the court’s order to issue identity cards to eunuchs, but it was proving difficult in many cases to identify their parents. He suggested that fake names be used in instances where parents did not want their names used.

The CJP said no one could deprive eunuchs of their property rights and proposed that they have a separate form to apply for identity cards. He observed that cases should be registered against parents who disown their children because they had biological defects.

Almas Bobby, a eunuchs’ representative, was directed to nominate one or more people to interact with the administration to improve communication. The court also suggested that NGOs help raise awareness of its previous orders that eunuchs get their full rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2011.