On a plea seeking basic rights and representation of the transgender community in senate, national assembly (NA), provincial assembly (PA), district councils and union councils, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the federal and provincial government law officers to submit final arguments on the application on April 16.
The Federation of Pakistan through the president of the country and his secretariat along with the province of the Punjab through its chief secretary were made respondents in the plea seeking rights for the transgender persons.
Petitioner Atif Sattar has sought directions from the LHC to ensure enforcement of rights of the bereaved community in public as well as private spaces and enforce a ban on the use of derogatory terms for the ‘Khawaja Siras’ such as ‘Heejra, Khusra or Naatu’.
The application also highlights the need to introduce measures to include transgender persons in the work environment of the government in various roles, even as elected representatives.
He voiced hope the authorities would establish separate and purpose-built educational institutes for the transgender persons in all districts of Punjab to empower them for leading roles.
Justice Shams Mehmood Mizra has asked the provincial and federal governments to submit conclusive arguments during the next hearing of the cases scheduled two months later.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2021.
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