NADRA has been officially directed to expedite the issuance of CNICs to transgender individuals. This directive was issued by the chairman of the Sindh Human Rights Commission (SHRC), Iqbal Detho, in response to complaints from the transgender community about difficulties they faced in obtaining CNICs.
Members of the transgender community approached Detho to express their concerns about the challenges they encountered when trying to get their CNICs. In response to these complaints, Detho penned a letter to the regional head of NADRA in Karachi.
He cited court rulings and laws, urging the official to ensure that transgender individuals are not subjected to unfair treatment at NADRA centers throughout the province.
In his letter, Detho highlighted the marginalization of the transgender community in Pakistan and their denial of constitutional rights. He emphasized that the delay in issuing CNICs to transgender individuals infringes upon several fundamental rights granted to citizens. These include the right to dignity (Article 14), the right to life (Article 9), and the right to equality before the law (Article 25).
This directive is a significant step towards ensuring the rights of the transgender community in Pakistan, who has long faced social exclusion and discrimination. The immediate issuance of CNICs will help them gain recognition and protection under the law, thereby promoting their inclusion in society.
