Woman approaches IHC with sex-change petition

Psychiatrists diagnosed the woman with gender identity disorder

ISLAMABAD: A 28-year-old woman approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to seek legal permission for a sex-change operation.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the petition filed by the woman. During the hearing, multiple aspects of the petition were discussed, and the woman appeared to apply for permission.

The judge after hearing the petition adjourned the hearing until March 8.

The petitioner appeared in court and stated that she has enough finances to pay for the surgery and all the medical facilities that will be required to fulfill the requirements of the surgery.

The petition states that two articles in the Constitution allow all Pakistan citizens equality in provision of medical facilities and other basic necessities, and thus should be provided to her as well.



A copy of the petition was obtained by The Express Tribune. The petition states that the woman lost both her parents at an early age and suffered multiple mental illnesses due to it. A consultant psychiatrist and a consultant of plastic and cosmetic surgery were approached by petitioner. Both the doctors have stated that her mental state of mind is so much angst because she suffers from gender identity disorder ICD-IO (Gender Dysphoria - DSM-Y).

Both the doctors sent in their recommendations to the IHC as well. The doctors also suggest "Re-Assignment Surgery" for the petitioner. The psychiatrist has diagnosed the petitioner with "depression of a moderate degree, mainly due to her gender identity."

"She remembers being always unhappy with her gender and describes periods of anxiety and depression in the past for which she received no formal treatment," the doctor's advice read. The second doctor's analysis says, "[she has] the feeling of and believing in being a man locked in the opposite gender."

The petitioner lists Secretary of Interior, Secretary of Health, Secretary of Education and the chairman of National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) as respondents.