ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to issue Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to members of the transgender community within 15 days.
The SC had taken a suo motu notice of the issue earlier and Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar presided over the case.
During the hearing, the CJP asked National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) Chairman Usman Mubeen whether CNICs were being issued to transgender persons. In response, the NADRA chairman said, “90 per cent CNICs have been issued so far and we are also using mobile registration units to issue them.”
CJP Nisar responded by saying, “I was expecting that all CNICs would have been issued by today.”
“SC’s order for issuance of CNICs to transgender persons was not limited to Punjab,” Justice Nisar also said.
“A meeting for representatives from all four provinces will be held sometime this month,” further said the NADRA chairman.
The top judge added, “I had earlier said that transgender persons should not be asked for medical certificates as it is not part of NADRA’s policy.”
“We are not called to any meetings,” said transgender activist Almas Bobby.
Justice Nisar said, “I am hearing the case on the basis of human rights and there is also a lot of politics within the transgender community.”
The SC ordered the authorities concerned to issue the remaining CNICs and then adjourned the hearing.
Earlier on June 16, Justice Nisar had taken up the issue.
He had earlier visited the Foundation House in Lahore where members of the transgender community complained to the top judge that NADRA had not issued CNICs to several members of their community.
[…] Pakistan Today […]
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