Satisfied with progress, SC concludes suo motu notice on transgender CNICs

Commission's report to be made part of court order

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday praised efforts by the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan (LJCP) and said Pakistan is one of the first countries to have developed a policy for the betterment of transgender persons.

"The law and justice commission has played a key role in the provision of NICs to transgender persons," said Chief Justice Saqib Nisar during the suo motu hearing of the case.

The court was also informed by the additional attorney general that the process of issuing CNICs has commenced. The court said the commission's report will become part of the court order allowing issuance of identity cards to the marginalised community.



"Provincial governments should keep working on the matter," the court instructed, and added that "According to the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) report, Pakistan is included in those nine countries which gave identity to transgenders".

The suo motu proceedings in the case were then wrapped up by the court.

In compliance with the orders issued by the SC, 2,163 transgender people have been issued Cs in Punjab, while 789 more cases are being processed.