The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday heard a petition filed by a person requesting sex reassignment surgery after being diagnosed with gender dysphoria.

The petitioner had moved the court yesterday saying that they had experienced "mental/psychological disturbance and disorder in her personality" since their early teens. The petition was added to a cause list of urgent cases and heard today.

The petitioner said they had been advised sex reassignment surgery by doctors after physical and psychiatric examinations concluded they were suffering from gender dysphoria and could be prescribed such a procedure.

The petition requested the court to allow "permission for treatment by means of simple surgery called as 're-assignment surgery' for gender disorder," and "prayed that respondents/officials concerned may kindly be directed to correct the record of the petitioner pertaining to 'gender' after successful surgery and getting requisite certificates from the doctor in this regard in the interest of justice."

The applicant, who appeared in the IHC today alongside their lawyer, told Justices Mian Gul Hasan and Aurangzeb that they were diagnosed with gender dysphoria after consulting various doctors and advised to undergo sex reassignment surgery.

They maintained that they suffered from depression, anxiety, and insomnia due to the condition, and requested that the court order relevant government departments to change their gender on legal documents after their operation.

The petitioner named the National Database Registration Authority, the Interior Ministry, Health Ministry and Education Ministry as respondents.

The hearing has been adjourned until March 8.

In 2015, a resident of Kohat transitioned from female to male after undergoing a surgery at a local hospital and got engaged to a childhood friend after a successful transition.

In the same year, two sisters in Chakwal had a similar surgery after doctors had declared them male after a physical examination.