A two-member Supreme Court bench told the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday to register eunuchs as legitimate voters and submit a report on the matter to the apex court within two weeks. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain, ruled that the eunuchs who had Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) would be eligible to cast their votes in the next general elections. The court directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to collect data of remaining eunuchs and issue them CNICs.
The court also asked the eunuchs to submit their claims forms to the offices of the deputy commissioners concerned in order to get their rights in inheritance. According to the record submitted to the Supreme Court, there are 80,000 registered eunuchs in the country. The court told the ECP and NADRA to submit the report by December 12 detailing the steps taken to implement the court’s orders.
During the hearing, the court was told that the process of issuance of CNICs to the eunuchs was not being carried out effectively. The court then directed NADRA authorities to accelerate the process. All the provinces submitted their reports to the court about the steps being taken for the welfare of eunuchs, including transfer of inherited land to them. A representative of the Sindh government told the court that employment had been provided to the eunuchs in the provincial Health Department. He said a piece of land had also been allocated to a residential colony for eunuchs. The court appreciated the Sindh government’s steps and told the other provinces to take similar measures for the welfare of eunuchs.
The chief justice said eunuchs were part of our society and could not be deprived of their right to inherit. Later, the court adjourned further hearing till November 14.
Meanwhile, Almas Bobby, president of the She-Male Association of Pakistan, told reporters that the credit of registration of eunuchs as voters went to Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. She said the federal and provincial governments should implement the apex court’s orders and expressed gratitude to the court for granting the eunuchs their rights.
SC orders ECP to register eunuchs as voters
