Pakistan’s Supreme Court Leads Again: Transgender Rights

While Pakistan’s military has egg on its face this week, it is important to recall that not all of Pakistan’s institutions are weak or broken. The Supreme Court under Justice Chaudhry continues to play an active role in a judicialized political environment. Last week, in a little noticed decision, the Pakistan Supreme Court required the government to provide eunuchs with national identity cards with a third gender, neither male nor female. South Asia has a long tradition of eunuchs, who are subject to much discrimination, and the decision represents a progressive attempt to challenge that. Thoughtful commentary by Dawood Ahmed is here.