The National Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill with majority vote for protection of rights and welfare of transgender persons including granting them right to inheritance to property, holding public office and employment. Pakistan Peoples Party's member Syed Naveed Qamar presented the bill 'The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018' in the Lower House for vote while it was passed by the Senate in March this year. This bill will become a law after the President grants assent to it.
According to the bill, there shall be no discrimination against transgender persons in acquiring the rightful share of property as prescribed under the law of inheritance. "The share of transgender persons shall be determined as per the gender declared on CNIC in accordance with the law of inheritance in Pakistan," the bill said.
There shall be no discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, identity and/or gender expression for transgender persons if they wish to contest election to hold public office, the bill said. The bill said that no transgender person shall be denied right to purchase, sell, rent or lease property, household or tendency on the basis of sex, gender, identity and/or gender expression.
It also said whoever employs, compels or uses any transgender person for begging shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to Rs 50,000 or with both.
The bill said the government must ensure the right to enter any lawful profession or occupation and to conduct any lawful trade or business for the transgender persons as guaranteed under Article 18 of the Constitution.
The transgender persons have also been granted right to obtain a driving licence and passport and they will not be discriminated against by educational institutions.
Separate rooms will be established at jails where transgender persons could be detained, the bill said.
The bill was opposed by JUI-F lawmaker Naeema Kishwer who said it should be referred to the standing committee for having detailed deliberation as the law can be misused by persons who disguise themselves as transgender.
She suggested the government to register a transgender with Nadra after he/she gets a medical certificate from a medical board. She also moved a motion and amendments to refer the bill to the Council of Islamic Ideology and the standing committee. However, her amendments were rejected.
PPP's Naveed Qamar said that detailed discussions were carried out by the Standing Committee of Senate and requested the House to pass the bill.
The National Assembly also passed 'The Acid and Burn Crime Bill, 2017.' The bill aims at making provisions to specifically criminalize acid and burn related violence by providing fair and speedy trial of such heinous offences and for matters connected therewith and incidental thereto.
The House adopted all the amendments moved by Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarian lawmaker Syed Naveed Qamar. The bill offered free medical treatment and rehabilitation for acid burn victims, besides outlining a process for conducting trials of accused in the shortest possible time. It was moved by Federal Minister Marvi Memon.
The National Assembly passed amendment to 'Anti-Terrorism Act 1997' to protect judges, prosecutors and witnesses.
The bill said that the witness anonymity order may be passed by a court to protect a witness during the court proceedings, allowing the witness to record his/her statement through a live video-link and identification parade shall be carried out by way of witness screening which is the use of screens, pertains or two-way mirrors to shield witnesses and their identity from the accused and from the public and media.
Other bills that were passed on Tuesday included: the National Civic Education Commission Bill, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) bill and Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (Amendment) Bill 2017, Islamabad Capital Territory Prohibition of Employment of Children Bill, Institute of Science and Technology Bahawalpur Bill, 2018, and Sir Syed Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering Institute of Technology Islamabad Bill, 2016.
The House also passed a resolution extending the period of 'CDA Amendment Ordinance 2018' for a further period of one hundred and twenty days.
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