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SC seeks reports over steps ensuring eunuchs' rights
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the chief secretaries of all provinces and Commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory to submit reports containing details
about steps taken so far for safeguarding the rights of eunuchs across the country till November 16.The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry issued the directive on a petition filed by Chairman of Insaaf Welfare Trust and and Islamic jurist Dr Muhammad Aslam Khaki.
The bench particularly asked the authorities concerned to submit reports over inheritance rights in the light of Supreme Court's earlier directive.
During course of hearing, the Chief Justice remarked that the Constitution protected life and rights of every citizens.
An official of the Social Welfare Department Punjab apprised the bench that services of eunuchs had been hired during vaccination drive and the results were encouraging.
A counsel for the National Database Registration Authority said that the two vacancies reserved for the transgender people were lying vacant as none of the eligible candidates with required educational qualification had applied for these seats.
Almas Bobi, Chairperson of All Pakistan Shemales Association, requested that people of their gender should be appointed on government jobs on permanent basis.
The Chief Justice said that they should educate themselves properly so that they could be accommodated against vacancies.
The bench is seized with a plea of Dr Khaki who raised voice over violation of human rights of eunuchs by stating that they were treated neither as males nor females and enjoyed no rights like other citizens.
He requested the court to provide justice to them and ensure a respectable status for them in the society.
The Court in one of its significant directives over the issue had already ordered for registration of eunuchs after determining their gender by medical check-up besides giving them the right to vote and inheritance.
The authorities were asked to trace out their families with the help of NADRA record so that they could be given their inheritance rights in accordance with laws.
The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had also included their names in voters' lists recently so that they could exercise their right of franchise.
The court had also directed the government to take steps for removal of gender disorder, so that transvestites could apply for passport facility and jobs quota.
The court had ordered for provision of incentives to trans-gender individuals such as education, free treatment facilities, respectable jobs for their social development and right of inheritance. (APP)
Courtesy www.geo.tv