Equality in K-P : Transgender voter registration begins on Feb 9

Provincial election commission held a meeting chaired by Syed Sher Afgan

PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has encouraged all members of the transgender community who possess Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) to enlist themselves on the electoral rolls from February 9. This would enable them to cast their vote in the next general elections, stated a press release issued from the office of the provincial election commission on Tuesday.

The statement emerged during a meeting held by the provincial election commission, presided over by the director-general of the election commission Syed Sher Afgan.

It was announced that, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has been enlisting members of the transgender community for the next general elections, and all members of the community have been asked to visit the district office of the election commission from February 9, where district election and social welfare officers along with NADRA’s mobile registration team will also be present to assist the community members.

Syed Sher Afgan said that the ECP has been informed of the problems the transgender community has faced in obtaining CNICs and registering for the vote.

“All the regional election commissioners have been directed to enlist transgenders for casting votes … those who do not possess CNICs should be enlisted, for NADRA to be issued their ID cards,” the press release said.

Meanwhile, members of the transgender community have again expressed concern at the format of the CNIC cards, saying that many of them did not know the names of their fathers. The community members also demanded that the commission allow them to use their aliases with their real names.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st, 2012.