NADRA asked to issue CNICs to trans people

SHRC Chairman exercising his powers under section 2 (iv) sent a letter to the regional head of NADRA Karachi

KARACHI:

The Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), taking notice of complaints against NADRA for not issuing the Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to the transgender people, has written to the NADRA authorities to ensure that all adult trans people get the cards without any further delay.

The transgender community members led by Sana Khan approached SHRC Chairman Iqbal Detho and informed him about the issue. Detho exercising his powers under section 2 (iv) that deals with life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual, guaranteed by the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, sent a letter to the regional head of NADRA Karachi and referred to court decisions and law and asked him to facilitate the transgender persons in at NADRA centers across Sindh without any discrimination on the basis of gender identity.

“The transgender community in Pakistan is already marginalised and denied its constitutional rights. Ceasing the provision of CNICs to the transgender persons violates various fundamental rights granted to the citizens,” the letter said, adding that this includes the right to dignity (Article 14), right to life (Article 9), and the right to equality before law (Article 25).

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2023.