Transgender people regain legal recognition in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national identity authority has reversed its previous decision to stop issuing identity cards to transgender people, restoring their legal recognition.

The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) said in a notification on Monday that it had withdrawn its earlier notice that had ordered the cessation of transgender registration.

In June, NADRA had cited a decision by the Federal Shariat Court, which deals with Islamic law, to suspend the implementation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020.

The previous NADRA notice had said that all applicants should be processed with either male or female gender, effectively denying transgender people their identity.

The latest NADRA notification did not give any reason for revoking the previous notice, but said that transgender registration would resume as per the rules.

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Transgender activists welcomed the move, saying it was a relief for the marginalised community that often faces discrimination and violence in the country.

“This is a positive development and we appreciate NADRA for restoring our rights,” said Nayyab Ali, chairperson of the All Pakistan Transgender Election Network. “We hope that the government will also implement the act and the rules in letter and spirit.”

After the revocation of the previous notification, transgender people will the right to self-identify their gender and obtain identity cards, passports, driving licences and other official documents accordingly.