- He said it was not a new law as it was enacted in 2018.
- He said all the political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), and others, approved this law in 2018.
- He said Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami had proposed an amendment in the law to prevent its misuse.
ISLAMABAD: Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar on Thursday rejected the “baseless propaganda” regarding the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill.
Addressing a joint news conference, along with Prime Minister’s Advisor Qamar Zaman Kaira, in Islamabad, he said it was not a new law as it was enacted in 2018.
He said all the political parties, including Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), and others, approved this law in 2018. He said Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan of Jamaat-e-Islami had proposed an amendment in the law to prevent its misuse.
The law minister said transgender persons were also human beings and the legislation was meant to protect their rights, including inheritance, education, employment, health, and purchasing a property. He said use of transgender persons for begging should be punishable under the law.
[embedpost slug=”/transgender-rights-bill-should-be-forwarded-to-islamic-council-for-review-ashrafi/”]
Azam Nazir Tarar said opinion of the Chairman Islamic Ideology Council was also sought with regard to Transgender bill. He said it is a wrong interpretation that intersex marriages have been allowed through this bill.
Speaking on the occasion, Qamar Zaman Kaira said they supported Senator Mushtaq’s amendments in the bill. However, he did not provide details if he had taken any step in this regard. He also said one should refrain from disgracing a person in the name of criticism.
On September 20, the Federal Shariah Court had asked the petitioners to submit their concerns in writing on the case ‘Transgender Act 2018’, BOL News reported.
According to the details, the Shariah Court had approved the applications of various people, including senator Mushtaq, Farhatullah Babar, and Almas Bobi. The court had directed all the parties to submit their concerns in writing.
Acting Chief Justice Sharia Court had said, “The real issue is about rights. Whoever has the rights should get it. The main objective is to protect and safeguard the community. If one closes his eyes, he does not become blind. ”
Orea Maqbool Jan had said before the court that the whole assembly approved the bill.
