Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights held here at Parliament House with Senator Walid Iqbal in Chair 

Islamabad, February 18, 2023 (PPI-OT):At the outset, Committee reviewed the Ministry’s Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) Projects and discussed the budgetary proposals for the financial year 2023-24. Secretary of the Ministry of Human Rights informed that a substantial allocation of 222.281 million rupees has been specifically earmarked for the advancement of ten ongoing Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) projects.

Furthermore, the committee was apprised that there is a proposal to initiate five new projects with a projected expenditure of 527 million rupees. Following careful and comprehensive deliberations and scrutiny, the committee reached a unanimous decision to sanction the budgetary allocation for the ongoing projects.

In addition, the committee instructed that comprehensive and detailed information regarding the proposed new projects to be included in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2023-24 be provided in order to ensure complete transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources and the implementation of the proposed projects.

Committee came up with consolidated amendment bill “Khunsa (Intersex) Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018″catering to multiple proposed amendments moved by different Senators. The committee proceeded with a detailed clause-by-clause discussion on the proposed amendments pertaining to the “Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018”. The committee thoroughly examined and deliberated upon each proposed amendment with precision and discernment.

The chairman of the committee informed the attendees that the proposed amendment bill aligns with Islamic law, which dictates that the gender of Khunsa (Intersex) individuals is determined by their physical appearance, genital features, and congenital ambiguities.

The bill stipulates that Khunsa individuals have the right to register themselves as male or female based on certification by a medical board. The proposed board must certify Khunsa individuals within 30 days of receiving their application. The committee thoroughly discussed the discrimination, unfair treatment, and challenges faced by the Khunsa (Intersex) community, as well as the issue of individuals with gender dysphoria.

The chairman urged participants to suggest clauses that would protect people afflicted with Gender Dysphoria from harassment and mistreatment. The committee decided to continue their deliberations on this matter before finalizing the draft of the bill.

Earlier, Senator Mushtaq Ahmed expressed his concerns about the increasing trend of encounters and killings by the Islamabad police, specifically in relation to the extrajudicial killing of two individuals accused of being involved in a rape incident at F-9 Park in Islamabad.

Committee meeting was attended by Senators, Syed Sabir Shah, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Syed Waqar Mehdi, Abida Muhammad Azeem, Dr. Muhammad Humayun Mohmand, Mushtaq Ahmed, Kamran Murtaza, Mohsin Aziz, Moulvi Faiz Muhammad and Senior Officials from Ministry of Human Rights.

For more information, contact:
Senate of Pakistan
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