Pak court orders ID cards to transgender voters in 15 days

Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday ordered the formulation of a committee to ensure the provision of Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) to transgender individuals in 15 days.

Justice Nisar gave the directive while hearing a suo motu case on the non-issuance of CNICs to transgender individuals at the apex court’s Lahore registry. The top judge also ordered this to be a one-window process.

Justice Nisar said he would personally monitor progress and constitute special courts to resolve pertinent issues. “Trans issues will not stand resolved till steps are taken to secure their rights,” he said.

Justice Nisar added those guilty of misbehaving with members of the community will be showed zero tolerance. The top judge said transgender individuals with CNICs should not be deprived of the fundamental right to vote.

“Whether the state steps in or not, the judiciary will do everything in its capacity to ensure that the transgender community gets its due. As a society, we should be ashamed for being inconsiderate towards them,” the CJP remarked. Justice Ijazul Ahsan, another judge, observed that reservation of special seats in the assemblies was contingent on their population.