RAWALPINDI – As National Database & Registration Authority (Nadra) started issuing Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to the eunuchs, a large number of shemales refused to take their cards due to controversy over the name of their parentage.
The eunuchs wanted to write down the name of their Guru who grew them instead of their father’s name on CNICs whereas NADRA refused to do so, saying it had not been given any instruction by the Supreme Court (SC) in this regard, informed All Pakistan Shemales Association (APSA) Chairperson Almas Bobby while talking to TheNation here on Wednesday.
According to her, a mobile van of NADRA was deployed here at the Rawalpindi Election Commission Office to distribute the cards between the third gender but only 20 to 25 eunuchs received their CNICs and get mentioned their names in the vote lists while the rest opted to return homes without obtaining their cards in protest against NADRA’s refusal to put the name of their Guru in place of their father’s name, informed here. She said that NADRA started distributing CNICs in the whole province as per instructions of Supreme Court (SC) orders but dozens of eunuchs did not get their cards. She said that the eunuchs wished for mentioning the names of their Guru in place of their father name as the Guru adopted, grew and taken care of them for the whole life.
She said that the once a third gender baby took birth in the house of any father, he handed over her to Guru, who feed and grew the child. “Keeping in the view the services of their Guru, the eunuch crave to put their name in place of their father name” Almas stated.
APSA Chairperson was of view that she would take up the issue before the SC on February 1, 2012 when the apex court would resume the hearing of the case of issuing CNICs to eunuchs. Earlier on the directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan, the work of providing national identity card (NIC) and registration of votes of eunuchs have been started in Rawalpindi and a mobile Van of NADRA will be available on Firdosi Road, Rawalpindi for this purpose.
So far 249 eunuchs have applied for CNICs who would be provided the same and such eunuchs who have already their ID cards can get changed their gender as Khawajasara. The eunuchs whose parents name are known and are attested by Social Welfare Officer are being provided CNICs.
This was disclosed in a meeting held in Commissioner’s Office to discuss and review the work of provision of ID Cards and registration of votes of eunuchs in the light of directions of Supreme Court of Pakistan.
Commissioner Rawalpindi Zahid Saeed said that the heads (gurus) of eunuchs should advise their disciples to get their ID Cards and also get themselves registered as voters as early as possible so that they may get their rights in accordance with the directions of the apex court and the staff of NADRA may also extend them all out cooperation in this respect.