Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) emir Sirajul Haq on Friday said that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 is against Islamic Sharia.
The law, which was recently passed by the National Assembly, provides equal rights to transgender persons.
Haq said in a press conference in Lahore that the law is against Sharia as it allows men and women to change their gender identity, adding that around 29 thousand men and women have so far declared changing their gender identity under the law.
He said the law is a conspiracy to destroy Pakistan's family system.
He, however, clarified that the party has always supported the rights of transgender people and it is not against their rights.
Legal expert Reema Omer said on Wednesday that the criticism of the law 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.
Also read: Transgender Rights Bill Stirs Up Debate In Parliament Once Again
On Tuesday, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the law, 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’.
The law, which was recently passed by the National Assembly, provides equal rights to transgender persons.
Haq said in a press conference in Lahore that the law is against Sharia as it allows men and women to change their gender identity, adding that around 29 thousand men and women have so far declared changing their gender identity under the law.
He said the law is a conspiracy to destroy Pakistan's family system.
He, however, clarified that the party has always supported the rights of transgender people and it is not against their rights.
Legal expert Reema Omer said on Wednesday that the criticism of the law 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.
Also read: Transgender Rights Bill Stirs Up Debate In Parliament Once Again
On Tuesday, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the law, 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’.