25 transgender community leaders join PPP

At least 25 leaders of the transgender community on Wednesday announced joining Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), expressing faith in the leadership of Bhutto family scion, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The decision was announced at a new conference in Karachi, which was also addressed by senior PPP leaders Nisar Khuhro and Saeed Ghani among others, Express News reported.

Speaking on the occasion, Khuhro said that his party viewed every segment and sector of the society in a dignified way. He added that those living under the guardianship of these transgender leaders have also become a part of the fold.

"The PPP is a social democratic party and provides equal opportunities of progress to everyone," Khuhro remarked.

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Expressing her views, transgender leader Bindiya Rana said her community wanted to see Bilawal Bhutto as the next prime minister of the country. Other members of the community also expressed complete confidence in PPP's leadership.

It was reported In September that the Ministry of Human Rights has fully adopted and implemented “The Transgender Act 2018” to ensure the protection of transgender persons.

The Transgender Act 2018 explicitly bans any discrimination against transgender citizens by employers, organisations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, transportation service providers and any private business or service providers.

It also calls for the establishment of government-run protection centres for transgender citizens who feel at risk of harm. It further guarantees transgender citizens their right to inheritance, often disputed under some interpretations of Islamic law, to run for public office, to assembly, to have access to public places and several other specific rights.