Starting this year in Pakistani, the federal government together with the interior ministry and the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) will now include the transgender community in the forthcoming population census. It would be the first in the country's history to have transgender to be included in the national population statistics.
A transgender petitioner, Waqar Ali was granted on Monday by the Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah her request for the community's basic rights such as the inclusion in the upcoming census and distribution of national identification cards stating their gender. Additionally, the judge ordered that there should be a separate box in the national identity card registration form intended for the sexual orientation of transgender persons, according to Daily Pakistan.
The petitioner's counsel, Sheraz Zaka claimed that the transgender community in Pakistan has been criticized stating that a transgender was inhumanly mistreated by a group of young men.
Transgender in Pakistan (khusra or hijras) are typically known as 'people of the third gender' who has no rights and would not earn respect. Because of the old ways of living of the people along with their beliefs, transgenders are considered as outcasts and do not belong in the community.
Since there are no official figures regarding the number of the third-gender population, the approximate range is from 80,000 to 500,000. In Karachi alone, an estimate of 70,000 comprises the population.
Based on the latest study conducted on 'transgenderism', it is estimated that one out of 50 children are distinguished with a potential or tendency to become one. That is to say, about two percent of Pakistani's population is afflicted.
Mashable reported in 2011 that transgender was granted the right to vote and in early 2012, Pakistan's Supreme Court had proclaimed equal rights for the transgender community. This includes the right to inherit assets and property.
Before, transgender was asked to indicate themselves as people with disabilities. The federal government afterwards deleted the column, leaving only two categories - male and female only.
Pakistan will have its census conducted in March 2017 and with the intervention if the High Court, transgender have high hopes of getting included in the national census.
