Senator Farhat Ullah Baber pointed out the same kind of notice was issued to the transgender community of Mardan earlier but the matter was later resolved with the interference of the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR). The committee took notice of the careless attitude of the security agency deployed there and called their representatives in the next meeting to get briefing and sort out the matter. Discussing draft of "The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2017" prepared by the NCHR, Senator Jehanzeb Jamaldini directed the commission to incorporate school age for transgender children in the bill to mainstream such children in the society.
Senator Nisar Muhammad suggested improving the bill in accordance with the Islamic teachings to protect the rights of transgender persons as they enjoy equal rights like others in the constitution. Qamar Naseem, a human rights activist, while appreciating the draft bill said that the major issue faced by the community was their abuse and assault but when they approach police for lodging first information report, the police register FIR under sodomy law.
He suggested that the word rape in the draft bill should be replaced with word assault or the punishment so that culprits should be taken to task. The chairperson asked to incorporate the recommendations in the draft bill and after thorough deliberation on the points raised by the members, the bill should be presented before the committee after four weeks.
Senator Sehar Kamran raised the issue that around 2.5 million Pakistanis are based in Saudi Arabia but there are only two welfare attaches deputed in Riyadh and Jeddah, one each. She said that the embassy of Pakistan in Saudi Arabia has not enough capacity to provide assistance to people facing even minor issues. The committee also asked the Ministry of Human Rights and Ministry of Finance to release funds to the NCHR and provide necessary assistance for establishing its offices throughout the country, besides utilising its mandate to give relief to people at their doorstep. Chairman NCHR Justice (retd) Ali Nawaz Chohan informed the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights National Commission on Human Rights has written letters to relevant security agencies seeking details about the kidnapping of children of Mir Muhammad Anwar Zehri but no response has been received so far. The committee also condemned the brutal killing of Mishal Khan, a student of Abdul Wali Khan University. They said that the gruesome incident has highlighted need for taking preventive measures to check misuse of blasphemy law.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017