At least 13 transgender persons will contest general elections this year to create history in the country and make their unheard voice heard. Of them two will contest for National Assembly and the rest for provincial assembly seats.
Transgenders were included for the first time in the census, published in August. The survey identified only 10,418 transgender people out of a population of nearly 208 million in Pakistan.
The importance of the participation of the trangenders was discussed yesterday at a national consultation where their political inclusion and empowerment for social progress was highlighted, the Express Tribune reported.
The consultation was organised by All Pakistan Transgender Election Network (APTEN) in collaboration with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The meeting was attended by all the potential candidates and representatives from their assigned constituencies, it said.
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.
Of the 13 transgender candidates, two will contest for National Assembly and the rest for provincial assembly seats, the report said.
Pakistan’s election commission on Monday proposed July 25-27 as possible dates for holding the general elections in the country.
The Election 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, Qamar Naseem, member of the Chief Minister’s Special Community on Rights of the Transgender Persons (K-P) and member of the National Task Force said.
