Senator Mushtaq, Farhatullah Babar, others applications to become party in Transgender Act case accepted by FSC
If someone closes his eyes, he will not become blind: Acting CJ Federal Shariat Court Syed Muhammad Anwar
ISLAMABAD ( Web News )
The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) on Tuesday accepted the petitions of Jamaat-e-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and Pakistan People’s Party leader Farhatullah Khan Babar to become parties in case filed against the Transgender Act 2018.
A two-member bench comprising Acting Chief Justice FSC Syed Muhammad Anwar and Justice Khadim M. Sheikh conducted the hearing of the case.
Hearing on an application was held against the Transgender Act 2018 in the Federal Shariat Court where the court accepted petitions of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Farhatullah Babar, Almas Bobi and others to become parties and also directed all the parties to submit their submissions in writing.
Columnist Oriya Maqbool Jan said that the entire assembly approved the bill when it was presented. Counsel for the Ministry of Human Rights said that the work of the ministry is only to act.
Acting Chief Justice Shariat Court remarked that the real issue is rights, whoever has the rights should be given, the main goal is to protect and give rights to the community, but if someone closes his eyes, he will not become blind.
Farhatullah Babar said that he was involved in the whole process when the bill was being prepared, he wants to tell the court what objections there were on the bill, what was discussed, two bills were combined and made into one bill.
The court also approved applications off Almas Bobi and others to become parties and directed all the parties to submit their submissions in writing.
The lawyer of the Ministry of Human Rights told the court that the work of the Ministry of Human Rights is only to act.
The Shariat Court directed the Ministry of Human Rights that a report should be presented on the next hearing that how many transgenders were inducted in how many institutions and what was the criteria to get them inducted. Was this quota for inducting the transgenders misused, the court further ordered.
Acting Chief Justice Shariat Court remarked that the real issue is rights, whoever has the rights should be given, the main goal is to protect and give rights to the community, but if someone closes his eyes, he will not become blind.
During the course of hearing, Acting Chief Justice Syed Muhammad Anwar further stated that Islam is the only religion which gives equal rights to all the children whereas trans community was suffering from the threat that someone while becoming party of their community, may damage their interests.
Farhatullah Babar said, “I was involved in the whole process when the bill was being made, I want to tell the court what objections there were on the bill, what was discussed, two bills were combined and made into one bill.”
Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan’s lawyer submitted that a new bill has been submitted in the Senate, no one should be allowed to change their gender at will. Senator Mushtaq that a new bill has been submitted in the Senate, no one should be allowed to change their gender at will.
NGO lawyer and transgender Babli Malik said, “Things have been mixed up in the transgender law, transgender is actually a birth defect, LGBT community and we transgenders are completely different, it is better that the court appoints a gender expert. There are many sex experts, including Farzana Bari, Fatimah Ehsan, to get support.”
Oriya Maqbool John replied that a sexologist gives an opinion only by looking, sex cannot be determined without a doctor’s certificate.
The transgender also requested a ban on social media discussion in this regard. The court adjourned hearing of the case for an indefinite period.