ISLAMABAD: Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Maula Bux Chandio informed the National Assembly on Thursday that a total number of 782 transgenders have been enrolled with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the upcoming general elections.
Transgenders, for the first time, will not only be able to exercise the rights to cast their votes but also be able to contest elections to represent the parliament, Chandio told The Express Tribune.
They have been enrolled in the electoral rolls of relevant electoral areas throughout the country, he informed the House while answering a question posed by MNA Nighat Parveen.
The registration process of eunuchs is going on with close coordination of the ECP and National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra), he added.
He further told the House that credible and error-free electoral rolls are being prepared for the upcoming elections.
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COMMENTS (9)
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I agreed with Rida, first of all its a matter of humanity to give them right to live as human, they should have the acceptability from their home from their parents & all the rights as human & as religion they get. If we are ignorant today its because of lack of education, lack of sence of equal rights,lack of religious rights & knowledge. They should be recognised in all levels of life. Their counceiling is also important so they know what they are,what they should get & treated in the soceity.
thats a good move :)
they should be given the option to vote in both the polls according to their own choice . some transgenders identity themselves more with females whereas some more with males . another better option would be to provide them with a third booth so that if they wish not to disclose their sexual orientation they can just exercise their right of voting without getting their self respect mutilated with the biased people who will not accept them in both male and female booths . this is a positive step and I back it completely they are equal citizens of Pakistan regardless of being male/female/transgender having the right to vote and not only vote but also stand for administration offices on the basis of merit without discrimination.
@MAD: They will vote where YOU will vote.
Will they vote in the male or female polling booth?
Homophobia must end in pakistani society.The religious leaders condemning gays and calling for their mistreatment belong in jail,not in front of loudspeakers.
We have to first accept eunuchs as equal human beings.All other things come after that.
Good...
There is so much hate and ridicule directed towards eunuchs in our society.This delusional sense of superiority that people have where they think they are inherently better than others is sickening.This same regressive mindset is evident in the persecution of the LGBT community in pakistan.The extent of societal acceptance of homophobia reveals how far the rot has gone.Discrimination against LGBT people is a norm in our society,our people don't consider persecution of people on the basis of sexual orientation a reprehensible thing.