SC constitutes committee for CNIC issuance to transgenders community

LAHORE: A bench of the Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan formed a committee to ensure issuance of  Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) to transgenders on Monday at its Lahore registry.

While hearing the case of non-issuance of CNICs to transgenders, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar, who was heading the bench, remarked that CNICs should be provided through one-window process.

“Supreme Court will monitor the entire procedure online and I myself will oversee everything,” CJP added.

Chief Justice asked about the measures taken for the security of transgenders and ordered to establish special courts for the suppressed faction of the society. “The issues of transgender community cannot be addressed, unless they are given legal security,” he noted.

CJP further asserted that transgenders community is a significant part of our society and any kind of misconduct or eve-teasing can not be tolerated against them.”We don’t know about government but will try to provide all legal provisions to the transgender persons,” he observed.

Chief Justice had taken suo moto notice of the issue on Sunday while visiting the Fountain House.

During his visit to Fountain House Lahore, the Chief Justice was complained of the problems faced by the transgender community, particularly the non-issuance of CNICs.

In 2009, Pakistan legally recognised a third sex, and allowed transgenders to obtain identity cards, but the court seeks to ensure its implementation.

Last year, the transgender community was counted in the national census for the first time, which recorded 10,418 transgender people, a figure said to significantly underestimated.

At least thirteen members of the transgender community will also be contesting the upcoming general elections on various seats across the country,