Supreme Court Orders- NADRA shall issue CNICs to transgenders by next 15 days

ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court has ordered National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) to issue computerized national identity cards (CNIC) to transgenders in the next 15 days.

CJP Mian Saqib Nisar, inquired NADRA Chairman Usman Mubeen if the CNICs are issued to transgender. The inquiry was done at the time of chairing a hearing on suo motu for not issuing CNICs to transgender.

NADRA chairman Mubeen replied to CJP, “Yes, till now 90% CNICs are issued. Also, by means of mobile registration units we are issuing CNICs.”

Though, the chief justice added, “I was expecting that all CNIC of transgender are issued by today. As Supreme court (SC) order for issuing CNIC to transgender was not only for Punjab.”

NADRA Chairman advised that within this month, a meeting is scheduled for all provinces representatives.

According to Transgender Almas Bobby statement to CJP, they are not asked to attend any such meeting related to CNIC issuance.

Justice Nisar has given a verdict o the basis of the matter for not issuing CNICs to transgender shall be taken care in next 15 days only and had postponed the case hearing for an imprecise time span.

It is to be mentioned here that CJP has declared on June 18, to form a special committee in order to make sure that transgender CNIC are issued on time without any delay, on which the top judge on June 16 took sou motu.

According to sources, it is observed that CJP took this step after he visited Foundation House in Lahore, and many transgender persons had complained him related to CNIC non issuing. Even though, the Pakistani law has assured basic rights for transgender community, but still they encounter numerous difficulties on regular basis.