- Sandhu recognises difficulties of trans community at state, social level
LAHORE: Speakers at a conference pointed out that transgender people are facing a number of key challenges that lead to violations related to human rights and political rights.
“We can easily observe that there is a lack of participation of transgender in different political activities and knowledge about the importance of democratic processes. We can also realise that these community members are ignored in their political stature,” speakers said during a day long conference – Political Participation of Transgender in Pakistan.
Addressing the event, former Punjab minister for minorities affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu recognised difficulties faced by transgender community both at the state and the social level. He shared the role the Punjab Assembly has played in facilitating the transgender community and also offered his services to support and address their issues in future.
Former lawmaker Nausheen Hamid Mairaj highlighted the challenges faced by her while introducing the Punjab Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2017 in the Punjab Assembly. Khawaja Sira Society representative Moon Ali shared the issues faced by the transgender community while obtaining their CNIC and casting their votes.
Newscaster Marvia Malik also attended the conference, arranged by the FACES Pakistan. She shared her personal experience of facing difficulty in obtaining her identity card. During the conference, a team of the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) informed the participants about the procedures of obtaining CNIC as transgender.
The active participation of the transgender community, relevant organisations and youth leaders during discussion made the conference successful. Moderating the panel discussions, FACES Pakistan President Javaid William concluded that there was a need of changing perceptions and social attitudes in the society. A plan was developed to address the needs of recognition and acceptance of the transgender community in Pakistan and implementation on the existing policies for them.
In future, the organisation will run an awareness campaign with the NADRA and the Election Commission of Pakistan to facilitate transgender in obtaining their CNIC and registering their votes.
