ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday directed the federal and provincial governments to sit together and find out amicable solutions to the issues confronting eunuchs.

The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry issued the direction after hearing progress over its previous orders.

Justice Chaudhry Ijaz Ahmed and Justice Rahmat Hussain Jafferi were the other members of the bench.

The bench in its order said that the Acting Attorney General had admitted that he would arrange a meeting of all provincial chief secretaries and advocate generals over the issue.

The government should consider the issue of their respect, property rights, other rights and the legal obligation to provide them maintenance, the order added.

At the outset of proceedings, the Chief Justice enquired about the progress and said the government should adopt some mechanism by allocation of job quota to the literate transvestites, besides ensuring welfare oriented schemes so that they could avail respectable opportunities instead of dancing on streets and roads.

He said that government with its concerned departments like Nadra should resolve the issue.

Acting Attorney General Shah Khawar apprised the bench that such issues involved legislation. He said he would take up all the issues with the concerned quarters including Nadra.

‘They are members of society and there should be no discrimination, they should be treated as citizens instead people with special status,’ said the Chief Justice.

He said the names of such people were also missing from electoral lists.

He advised that a meeting of all representatives should be convened to consider their status and other issues, besides NGOs should come forward for their assistance.

‘For God’s sake make them respectable people and not mere beggars, bring them into mainstream,’ he added.

Advocate General Punjab Khadim Hussain Qaiser apprised the bench that there were 1,760 eunuchs by birth in the province besides a number of their class working under duress or by choice.

Almas Shah, representing eunuchs, appeared before the bench and recounted the issues confronting them.

The hearing was adjourned till November 20.

Islamist jurist Dr Mohammad Aslam Khaki had filed the petition for the welfare of the unfortunate and vulnerable people left by the society to live by begging, dancing and prostitution.

He took up their cause after police raided and arrested several transvestites.—APP