CNICs for eunuchs: Supreme Court directive to Nadra

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to fill gender column with 'he-male and she-male' while issuing CNICs to eunuchs. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry with Justice Muhammad Sair Ali and Justice Ghulam Rabbani was hearing a petition regarding rights of eunuchs across the country.
The petitioner along with Almas Bobby, President She-male Rights of Pakistan were there while senior law officers and government officials appeared for Federation and its provincial units. Director Legal Nadra informed the court that in compliance with the apex court directives regarding issuance of ID cards to eunuchs, significant progress has been made and efforts were under way to complete the process as soon as possible.
Eunuchs informed the court that Nadra officials are demanding medical reports, identifying the gender for issuing CNICs to them. The bench noted that if issuance of ID cards for eunuchs is linked to medical report, it will further complicate the process. The Chief Justice asked the lawyer for Nadra whether such documentation was also required to issue identity cards to men and women. The court directed the authorities concerned to complete the process without creating problems for eunuchs.
The officials of provincial governments presented reports regarding steps taken by their respective governments for the welfare of eunuchs. However, expressing dissatisfaction over the report, the court directed the authorities concerned for taking practical steps pertaining to welfare of eunuchs.
The Chief Justice remarked that eunuchs are Pakistani citizens and they are deprived of their rights because they do not have identity cards. He directed Nadra to immediately complete the registration process, so that remedial measures could be taken for their welfare.
The representatives of provincial governments informed the court that talks with different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are going on to initiate special welfare projects for this deprived section of the society. Justice Chaudhry said eunuchs are as much citizens of Pakistan as citizens of other genders and hating or persecuting them was not allowed. They had the right of inheritance in the property of their parents.
This is the responsibility of all the people in the society, he observed, to respect and take care of them. Once they {eunuchs} will be given the rights, their relatives will also have a soft corner in their hearts for them, he added Eunuchs complained to the court about never-ending harassment by police. The court asked them to identify the police officials, so that action could be taken against them.
Later, talking to media, Almas Bobby said that they were grateful to Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for ordering social welfare secretaries of all four provinces to conduct a survey to document the record of eunuchs and carry out their registration. Bobby said it was a historic order for the community, which remained neglected in this part of the world. We are grateful to Advocate Dr Muhammad Aslam Khaki for raising voice in our favour and filing a case for us in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Bobby added.
Bobby was of the view that eunuchs were the most deprived segment of society. "We don't have any status in society. We are not provided proper medical treatment in any hospital. We don't have a right to get education in any academic institution. We don't have a right to cast votes in the general elections," Bobby maintained. The hearing was adjourned for three weeks.