ISLAMABAD: A sigh of relief for the transgender community as the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has resumed the registration for transgender persons after a pause of three months. Nadra issued the official notification that overturns their previous order to halt the registration process due to the Federal Shariat Court (FSC) verdict.
Public Engagement Director of Nadra, Rida Qazi, stated that the matter is in the apex court, but the recommendations from the external legal advice wing of the authority briefed that they were constitutionally obligated to print ‘X’ NICs for transgender persons.
Director of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan, Nayyab Ali, congratulated the transgender activist community for their unwavering efforts and applauded the decision. Similarly, the National Commission for Human Rights also praised Nadra for reactivating the registration process for the ‘X’ gender category.
Nadra had to halt the ‘X’ NIC registration for transgenders due to the ruling against the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 by FSC on May 2023. The legal community, civil society, and human rights activists opposed the decision by FSC.
Farhatullah Babar, Secretary General of the PPP, challenged the FSC verdict in the Supreme Court’s Shariat appellate bench.
