Unmarried woman adopting girl wants Nadra to change form

KARACHI: It is a small but significant dilemma — what does an unmarried woman write in a NADRA form when she wants to register an adopted baby? The only options are father and husband.

Why should guardian not be added, asked Ayesha Jalil, who has gone to court with a petition.

On Wednesday, the Sindh High Court took up the matter and has summoned the Social Welfare department, Edhi Foundation and National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) at the next hearing.

Ayesha Jalil has asked for a change so that orphans and other children can be registered. Chief Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh have asked these departments to appear along with the Advocate General of Sindh and Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan on December 14. The court also appointed Barrister Salahuddin Ahmed as Amicus Curiae and has asked the honorary secretary of the SHC Bar Association to assist in the matter.

The federal and provincial law officers were also asked to submit comments and inform the bench of what arrangements have been made for orphans and street children or newly born babies who have been abandoned.
Source: The Express Tribune
Date:11/24/2011