The Supreme Court on Monday issued directives to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure enlisting eunuchs having CNICs as voters whereas provincial authorities were also asked to gear up efforts for ensuring eunuchs' inheritance rights in movable and immovable properties.
A division bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Justice Khilji Arif Hussain was hearing identical constitutional petitions filed by Dr Mohammad Aslam Khakhi and other versus SSP operations Rawalpindi under Article 184 of the Constitution of Pakistan on humiliation of eunuchs in Pakistan.
During the course of hearing, Saqib Jamal, Director NADRA apprised the bench that CNICs were being issued to eunuchs whereas eunuchs' representative Almas Bobby informed the bench that their community in Islamabad was able to receive CNICs but eunuchs in other parts of the country were facing difficulties in obtaining the cards.
On the occasion, all the provincial secretaries presented reports pertaining to reforms for the betterment of the eunuchs. The Director General Social Welfare Department, Punjab said that his department in the province was conducting meetings with District Co-ordination Officers of 31 districts to expedite the process of transfer of land to eunuchs.
He further said they were co-operating with the representatives of the eunuchs. Bobby said the officials have not issued 'fards' (Record of Right) to 122 eunuchs in the Punjab. The Sindh Social Welfare Department representative said besides the inheritance rights they have allocated land for the housing schemes and also started health and social welfare programs for them. The CJP appreciated the efforts of the Sindh government, saying that other provincial governments should also launch such programs for eunuchs. The court adjourned hearing till December 12.
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