Trans people call for voting rights
Transgenders are being denied the right to vote due to a lack of proper representation on the general election voters list, Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA) claimed during a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday.
The GIA, represented by Bindia Rana, Shahzadi Rai, Zehrish Khanzada, and Rabia of Aurat March, expressed dissatisfaction with the Election Commission’s voting registration. Shehzadi Rai lamented that the proposal to restart the voting registration process of transgender persons had been ignored, leaving not a single transgender person on the voting list.
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The suspension of identity card issuance for transgenders, following the Shariah Court’s decision against the Trans Protection Act 2018, further compounds the issue.
Bindiya Rana stressed on the need for reserved seats for transgender individuals in the general election to ensure their representation and address their concerns at both national and provincial levels, just like they were given reserved seats on local government level in Sindh.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2024.