13 transgenders to contest Pakistan general elections in July; Election Commission says candidates will empower community

Islamabad: At least 13 transgenders will contest the upcoming Pakistan general elections. Two of them will contest for the National Assembly and the rest for the provincial assemblies. This was officially announced on Wednesday at a national consultation organised by All Pakistan Transgender Election Network (APTEN) in collaboration with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), The Express Tribune reported on Thursday. [caption id="" align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. AFP[/caption] The national consultation was attended by all the potential candidates and representatives from their assigned constituencies where they highlighted their demands and importance of political inclusion and empowerment of transgender persons in Pakistan. While sharing names of some of the potential candidates, APTEN said it includes Farzana Riaz (NA-33), Arzu Khan (PK-33), Lubna (PP-26), Komal (PP-38), Madam Bhutto (PP-189), Nayab (NA-142), Nadeem Kasish (Candidate for National Assembly), Ashee (Candidate from Punjab) and others. The objective of this consultation was to bring all the candidates and other stakeholders at discussion table where they could share their concerns and way forward. The major concern of the candidates was regarding their identity documents such as computerised national identity card (CNIC) among others. Some of them have CNIC in which they are mentioned as male in gender section but by appearance, they look like women. Talking to The Express Tribune, Qamar Naseem, member of the chief minister’s special community on Rights of Transgender Persons (K-P) and member of the National Task Force said the ECP Act 2017 under Article 48 A and B transgender community are included in the vulnerable community which means that they shall not be required to stand in queue and will be given priority of right to vote. Naseem further said that last time four transgenders contested the general election but they could not do it in proper order. However, this year the community has constituted APTEN which will provide them a platform from where they will contest the election in an organised manner. Meanwhile, speaking at the occasion, additional director general (Gender Affairs) Nighat Siddique said, “In the upcoming electoral process, ECP will ensure a friendly and inclusive system for the transgender community not only as voters but also as candidates.”