Legal expert Reema Omer on Wednesday said that the criticism of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 is 'malicious, opportunistic and entirely baseless'.
In a series of tweets, she said that the law was enacted after months of research, deliberations and consultations, and it has support from all major political parties, National Commission for Human Rights, members of Council of Islamic Ideology, civil society groups, and transgender community.
“The law reaffirms fundamental rights of transgender people, including education, equality, health, access to public spaces, political participation, and livelihood. It also recognises the right of transgender people to get their identity cards changed in accordance with their self-perceived gender identity,” she said, adding that it does not cover homosexuality or same-sex relations.
She urged the people to embrace the law as it is an effort to undo oppressive colonial laws that criminalised transgender identities in the region, viewing them as 'deviants' and 'imposters'.
Earlier, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the law on Tuesday, saying it goes against the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. He added that he will introduce amendments to some of its 'objectionable parts'.
In a series of tweets, she said that the law was enacted after months of research, deliberations and consultations, and it has support from all major political parties, National Commission for Human Rights, members of Council of Islamic Ideology, civil society groups, and transgender community.
The social media campaign against the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, is malicious, opportunistic and entirely baseless
Some facts and context:
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) September 21, 2022
“The law reaffirms fundamental rights of transgender people, including education, equality, health, access to public spaces, political participation, and livelihood. It also recognises the right of transgender people to get their identity cards changed in accordance with their self-perceived gender identity,” she said, adding that it does not cover homosexuality or same-sex relations.
She urged the people to embrace the law as it is an effort to undo oppressive colonial laws that criminalised transgender identities in the region, viewing them as 'deviants' and 'imposters'.
Earlier, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the law on Tuesday, saying it goes against the teachings of the Holy Quran and Sunnah. He added that he will introduce amendments to some of its 'objectionable parts'.