(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) PESHAWR: The all Pakistan Transgender Election Network (APTEN) is a national level network that has been developed by various transgender rights groups to protect and promote a range of regional mechanisms to include rightful representation of the transgender community among the masses of Pakistan. The APTEN promotes the establishment of punitive national laws, policies and practices that can enhance the rights of transgender persons and give them access to justice that can counter social exclusion and loss opportunities.
The transgender community of Pakistan is often marginalized and face complex problems leading them towards extreme vulnerability in the society. They often face social, legal, and economic problems that need to be addressed as the highest priority by our government. Transgender persons' experiences suggest that they are often targeted and misrepresented and face hatred and aggression from the masses which leads to their isolation. All this bias often goes unpunished.
To highlight political representation of the transgender persons a national level consultation was held Wednesday by APTEN with the support of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in which all the potential candidates and representatives from their assigned constituencies took part and mentioned their demands to highlight the importance of political inclusion and empowerment of transgender persons in Pakistan. The candidates included Farzana Riaz (NA-33), Arzu Khan (PK-33), Lubna (PP-26), Komal (PP-38), Madam Bhutto (PP-189), Nayab (NA-142), Nadeem Kasish (Candidate for National Assembly) Ashee (Candidate from Punjab) and others, says a press release. The national consultation deemed useful for the transgender community in bringing their voices to a unified platform and consolidating their vision into a collective position and a critical mass for inclusion in and access to their constitutional-democratic rights.
The consultation also consisted transgender network members including representation TransAction Khyber Pakhtukhwa (TAP), Sindh Transgender Welfare Network (STWN), Punjab Transgender Association (PTA), Balochistan Alliance for Transgender and Intersex Community (BATIC), Blue Veins and Peace Justice and Youth Organization all gathered to highlight the factor key of empowerment for transgender community in Pakistan in their political representation.
Qamar Naseem, program coordinator of Blue Veins, member of the Chief Minister's Special Community on Rights of the transgender persons KP, and member of the national task force said that - 'It is about time that the transgender community of Pakistan has rightful representation and the announcement of candidacy and contestation in elections by transgender persons is historical given the staggering rates of violence and discrimination faced by trans people throughout Pakistan. He added that - 'Majority of trans people are not out beyond a very selective and trusted circle but require a power of presence and expression so that they can support one another in hostile situations and stand in the public spotlight and demonstrate the legitimacy, value, and dignity of trans peoples' lives with the support of their political stature.'
Zahid Abdullah, Project Manager (TDEA), said, 'Political empowerment would not only give transgender community a fair chance to raise voice for rights but it would also enable them to get the opportunity of grooming in the political system to make efforts for the protection of own rights.' Nayab, President Punjab Transgender Association (PTA) and Candidate (NA 142), said, 'The transgender community is most vulnerable in terms of identity, economic and other statuses within the same country as well as within their own community. Across the country transgender community has been deprived of many rights while to politically empower trans community and give them greater control over their own development is closely linked to, and reinforces, work to build accountable and responsive government institutions that can meet the needs of trans community'.
Nighat Siddique, Additional Director General (Gender Affairs), said, 'The election commission of Pakistan will fully support and ensure that the upcoming electoral process and create a friendly and inclusive system for the transgender community not only as voters but also as candidates.
She said it is a great accomplishment that transgender persons have been included in the coming elections and the commission will formulate a viable strategy to facilitate transgender community in the electoral process as voters and candidates. The Election Commission according to Election Commission Act 2017 Clause 48 the transgender community will not need to stand in long queues and will be given right to priority vote at all polling stations across the country.
Farzana Riaz, President TransAction KP and Potential candidate said, 'The systematic marginalization of the transgender community should end and political parties should encourage the community by including its members in their activities and decision-making process.'
She added that gender equality needs to be institutionalized within party structures, processes and practices and said that political parties need to initiate a mentorship programmes to build the capacity of transgender political activists.
Zafar Iqbal Hussain, Additional Secretary (Training, Research and Evaluation) Election Commission of Pakistan, said, 'Being as citizen of Pakistan, transgender community has full right to contest elections and hold office, and need to be acknowledged and respected in Pakistan.'
He added, 'The Election Commission is trying its level best to politically groom and bring about equality among all citizens and a voice should be given to the ones that need it the most and the commission will make sure that the electoral system is accessible to everyone.'
Concluding the event Farzana Riaz stated that while the visibility of transgender people has blossomed in the media, transgender leaders remain close to invisible in public office which is why the efforts of APTEN hold specific value in current times so that it can be insured that the political empowerment of transgender community will not only give them a fair chance to be their own voice, but also bring their best out in the form of representatives to hold offices, which will groom them as political workers. Once this community is groomed, it will be an asset for the country.
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