Not consulted on transgender bill, says CII chairman

Tue, January 02, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights and Council of Islamic Ideology are at loggerheads on the passage of ‘Transgender Person (Protection of Rights) Bill 2017’ after the latter denied having any role in its consultation prior to its approval.

Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz, while speaking to Express Tribune said the name of his body was misused in this context. “This bill was not sent to the CII before being approved by the Senate Functional Committee on HR, but CII’s name was misused for its approval,” the chairman said.

Dr Qibla remarked the bill on transgender issue was referred to CII only after formal approval by the Senate Functional Committee on HR. A meeting in this regard has been called on January 17 to review its fallout along with other bills like Child Marriage etc.

The controversial bill which was drafted by a national task force constituted by Federal Ombudsman and approved by the Senate Functional Committee on HR, last year in December after the committee was informed that input from the CII was also included in the recommendations of the bill, which was meant for the protection of the rights of transgender community.

The committee was also informed that the share to transgender persons in inheritance as suggested by CII will be according to their physical appearance resembling more to a male or female.

Dr Qibla asked how was it possible for CII to give its recommendations when it had not even started reviewing the bill. He further said that on January 17, the bill will be thoroughly taken into consideration by the concerned people, stakeholders and if any flaw was found it will be sent back for addressing the loopholes.

Meanwhile, several transgender rights activists and members of the taskforce have expressed reservations over the ‘Transgender Person (Protection of Rights) Bill 2017’ as they believe the bill has failed to define transgender and intersex persons properly.

Surprisingly, the bill allows transgender community to get identity of their choice without having a chromosomes test, which is a clear violation of the apex court order.

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