Eunuchs seek additional column in national census form

Islamabad

Umar, Nadeem-ul-Zafar Khan and Safdar Hussain alias ‘Pinki’, ‘Goori’ and ‘Bijli’ respectively are among the seven eunuchs/transgender, who filed a petition before the Islamabad High Court seeking inclusion of an additional column in the national census forms for the registration of transgender community.

Petitioners through their counsels Gul Rehman Mohmand and Saifullah Khan Advocates have contended that in case this community is not included in the census, this may be stopped preventing transgender exclusion from the national statistics.

The petitioners have cited secretary establishment, secretary interior, director general bureau of statistics, chairman Nadra and director general ministry of human rights as respondents.

The petitioners adopted that they are transgender persons, not respected by the society and even their parents’ do not own them due to social pressures and stigmas. Transgender community is socially isolated and forced to live in marginalised circumstances. But as a human being they equally deserve respect, honour and opportunities to excel.

The petitioners contended that Supreme Court of Pakistan through a judgment had directed the authorities to provide computerized national identity cards (CNICs) to the transgender. The said decision was implemented but the gender was not mentioned as desired by this community.

The petitioners requested the court to direct the respondents to include a column in the census forms for the registration of transgender so as government could allocate resources according to their numbers. Further Nadra may be directed to issue CNICs to the transgender community mentioning their status as male/female transgender between them. Petitioners also requested to direct the authorities to reserve job quota for them.