Federal Shariat Court (FSC) States That The Situation Faced By Transgender Children Will Scar Pakistani’ Society
GHRTV Reporter
Catherine Yu
Pakistan & Human Rights Researcher
Global Human Rights Defence
After petitions was scheduled to challenge the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, Chief Justice Dr. Syed Muhammad Anwer and Justice Khadim Hussain Shaikh of the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) came together to examine it on Tuesday. Chief Justice emphasised the significance of the state's duty to safeguard the lives and rights of transgender children as they have come into contact with exploitation by criminals. Chief Justice Anwer further stated that “it was unfortunate that these children were abandoned by their own families and as a result, they are abused by criminals and fall prey to paedophiles and other predators in our society” (Anwer, 2022). Chief justice questioned the Ministry of Human Rights about how society as a whole treated the trans community, but no "adequate" response was given at the time. In response, the ministry was “directed to submit a report by Dec 15 on facilities for the protection of children born with some defects in their sexual organs” (Ali, 2022). This report was urged on account of “ Section 6(a) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018” stating that the government and the human rights ministry must ensure the safety and well-being of all transgender people (Ali, 2022). Furthermore, intersex children who are left behind by their families should have a safe home, in accordance with the category of intersex (Khusra) as specified in section 2(n)(i) of the act.
Sources and further reading:
Ali, K. (2022, December 14). Condition of trans children 'scar on society': Federal Shariat Court. Dawn. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1726234/condition-of-trans-children-scar-on-society-federal-shariat-court
Anwer, S. (2022) Dawn. Retrieved December 14, 2022, from https://www.dawn.com/news/1726234/condition-of-trans-children-scar-on-society-federal-shariat-court
