LHC moved against transgender persons being denied jobs in Punjab police

The Lahore High Court (LHC) sought on Saturday replies from the Punjab government, provincial chief secretary and Punjab inspector general of police on a writ petition over "discrimination" against transgender persons by denying them jobs in the police.

Justice Shujaat Ali Khan of the LHC ordered that the petition be relisted on November 1 for hearing and the respondents were to submit their replies before the next date of hearing.

"Let notice[s] be issued to the respondents with the direction to file their report and parawise comments before the next date of hearing. Learned Law Officer shall ensure [the] filing of [the] report and parawise comments before the next date of hearing, " the court order read.

Observing that the matter raised in the petition was of "public importance", the court appointed two senior lawyers, Advocate Mazhar Ilahi and Advocate Ali Afzal Sahi, and Dr Naeem, the chairperson of the Islamic studies department at Government College University, Lahore, as amicus curiae to assist the court at the next hearing.