PESHAWAR: A resolution demanding transgender people be allowed to perform Hajj and Umrah — two major Islamic pilgrimages — in Saudi Arabia was submitted Friday in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly.

According to the resolution submitted by PPP lawmaker Nighat Yasmin Orakzai to the KP Assembly's secretariat, the Pakistani government should request Saudi Arabia to allow transgender people to perform the Islamic pilgrimages.

The resolution further calls for right to inheritance for the transgender community as they, too, "are citizens of Pakistan".

"The transgender community is also part of the [Pakistani] society; therefore, their identity cards should be included in the inheritance law," the resolution demanded.

Back in 2018, Pakistan had passed a landmark transgender rights bill for the community's protection, allowing them fundamental rights, prohibiting gender-based discrimination, and letting them choose their gender on official documents.

Earlier this year, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare Department had proposed a new policy for the transgender community, noting that advice had been sought from relevant stakeholders and approval from the provincial cabinet awaited.

"The transgender community is also part of the [Pakistani] society; therefore, their identity cards should be included in the inheritance law," the resolution demanded.