Motion tabled for protecting transgender rights in K-P assembly

Orakzai says state should take steps to guarantee full legal recognition of a gender reassignment

PESHAWAR: A Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Assembly member on Wednesday moved a resolution calling for protecting transgender rights in the background of rising violence against them in the province.

Meanwhile, a senator, who is also from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), suggested the same in a press conference.

PPP MPA Nighat Yasmeen Orakzai moved a resolution under Article 144 of the Constitution, stating, “The house resolves that Parliament may legislate on the protection of the rights of transgender persons on behalf of the province of K-P in terms of Article 144 of the Constitution.”



Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club, the chairperson of National Taskforce on Rights of Transgender Persons, PPP Senator Rubina Khalid, stressed the need for sensitising political parties, media and the people at large on the importance of these legislations.

She also called for continuing efforts to reduce discrimination against transgender and intersex persons through awareness campaigns, besides providing them with psychosocial and legal support.

“For all challenges faced by trans people in the context of human rights and health, promising interventions and policy progress demonstrated that positive change is possible,” a statement issued by the TransAction rights group read.



Orakzai stated that the state should take appropriate steps to guarantee full legal recognition of a gender reassignment in all areas of life, adding that proposed legislations would address systemic discrimination faced by transgender people.

Both bills are the outcome of lengthy and broad-based consultations with all stakeholders, especially representatives of the transgender community from across the country by the National Commission of Human Rights (NCHR) and National Taskforce constituted by the office of the Federal Ombudsperson.