LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday sought recommendations of a committee made to provide free Computerized National Identity Card (CNICs) to transgender within seven-day time, making it clear that teasing transgender would not be tolerated.

The top judge held court first time in country’s history on third day of Eid holidays at the Supreme Court Lahore registry. Justice Ijazul Ahsan was the other member of the bench.

“No misbehave with transgender will be tolerated,” CJP Nisar remarked.

The bench directed the government authorities for one-window operation to provide CNICs to transgender, observing that the apex court would monitor itself all the steps taken for them online.  The CJP also asked about steps taken for protection of transgender. However, he observed that special courts would be established for transgender as their problems could not be solved until then.  

Dr. Amjad Saqib, a member of a committee formed by the court, said that transgender community was such segment of the society that were ignored by even by their parents. He said their parents did not given them their names and they were teased with different names in the society. He pointed out that they also did not have any support from any state institution. 

Saqib said their total strength had been shown as 10,000 in  the national census but in fact they were more than that.  Nayab, a transgender who was present in the court, said that their total strength shown by the ECP was 1909. He said they must be represented in the legislative assemblies—so that their voice could be properly be heard.  At this, Justice Ahsan observed that reserved seats for them depend on their population. Punjab Chief Secretary Akbar Durrani said committees had been constituted to issue CNICS to transgender. The CJP remarked that those transgender who had their CNICs should be given right to vote.

“The court will do whatever it could do for transgender under the law,” the top judge remarked.  The CJP held that their respect must be ensured in the society, observing that misbehave with them would not be tolerated at any cost.  The CJP also directed the committee to hold workshop for awareness about the problems of the transgender. For this workshop, the platform of Law and Justice Commission was available, he further said.  The court sought implementation report of committee’s recommendation about issuance of CNICs to transgender within seven-day time.

Taking notice of wedding halls’ construction at Punjab University’s campus, the chief justice of Pakistan sought replies from the varsity’s vice chancellor and Lahore Development Authority’s Director General. Abdullah Malik Advocate had moved the complaint stating that wedding halls had been established on the premises the varsity. He said the dignity of the state institutions had completely been ruined through the wedding halls. Malik said the playground of the varsity had been used for wedding halls which was against the law. At this, the CJP took notice and sought reports from the authorities concerned, observing that “Tells us on what grounds commercial activities are going on at the varsity’s land,”.

The top judge also took notice of unregistered life-saving drugs and sought reply from Drug Regulatory Authority.  Young Doctors’ Association Secretary Salman Kazmi had submitted complaint, saying that life-saving drugs of multinational companies were being sold against double price in the local market. He said 41 medicine were yet to be registered by the regulatory authority. Kazmi said all these medicines would be available on normal prices if the same were registered with the authority. At this, the CJP sought reply from the Drug Regulatory Authority.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar also took notice of the scarcity of funds for Punjab Vocational Training Council and sought report from the Punjab government.

Heading a two-member bench at the Supreme Court Lahore registry, CJP Nisar directed Punjab Chief Secretary for detailed report on scarcity of funds for the council.  PVTC head Sajid Naseer had moved the complaint who said that the fixed funds of the council were also not being released. He complained that the council had not been receiving funds for last number of years. Only 80 students out of 200,000 were enrolled because of scarcity of funds this year, he said.  Naseer said they also faced hurdles in payment of salaries to the staff.  At this, the CJP said it was a serious matter and the court must be assisted about the provision of funds.   The top court sought detailed report on the funds of the council.