By Sumaiyah Ali 

 

Violence and discrimination against the transgender community remain sensitive social issues in Pakistan. People call them the third gender. Society considers them an abomination. People frown upon transgender. They consider them a degenerates. People consider them as if they are not humans. Individuals do not respect transgender. The rights of transgender in Pakistan are not significant.

It is a controversial topic. People are uptight. Their mindset is backward. So, literate and advanced people do not discuss the rights of transgender. People rebuke transgender. They do not consider themselves equals to other members of society.

People are skeptical about transgender. They oppress them. Individuals fear transgender since childhood. Parents are anxious. That is to say, they believe that it is inappropriate for their children to interact with transgender. They develop a feeling of reluctance towards them.

People hate transgender. They believe that when a transgender is born, he does not identify his gender. Individuals think that transgender can entertain merely. People force them to live with their kind in a segregated society. They suffer crippling poverty.

Transgender is illiterate. That is to say, people consider the idea of an educated transgender unreal. Individuals brutally batter them up.

Police shot transgender activist shot in Peshawar. He fought for the rights of transgender. A transgender alliance coordinator of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was shot six times too. When driven to the hospital, the doctor caused them to wait for an hour. They were figuring out whether to shift him to the female ward or the male ward. That caused Alisha’s death.

A constitution retains laws in a written form. It safeguards the rights of transgender in Pakistan. However, when the time comes to enforce the laws. Sad to relate, the government does not convey them. NADRA created a third gender in its database in 2012. It wanted to accommodate all transgender.

People subject transgender to physical violence. They violate and sexually harass them too. In January 2018, nine men kidnapped an 18-year-old transgender woman identified as Shama. They brutally gang-raped her in Peshawar.

On 4^th May 2018, assailants shot Muni a transgender woman fatally. She was a dancer. Certain men hired her to entertain at a wedding. She could not give them Rs. 1000.

The authorities refuse to admit the bodies of transgender people into a morgue. They fear that the decapitated and tortured bodies might pollute them. The British Empire had classified them as a criminal tribe. In many cases, people have set transgender women on fire. To clarify, they had allegedly refused sexual favors. Individuals strike at them in their homes. They pierce them when they stand up for themselves.

2017, Housing And Population Census

According to the 2017, Housing and Population Census 10,418 transgender people live in Pakistan. This figure represents a minor part of the exact number. Many transgender women protested that the census agents registered them as men.

Society often shuns transgender. They find themselves vulnerable to being forced into sex work or begging to survive. People believe that transgender can offer blessings to others. They think that they possess spiritual powers too. Individuals think that they can dance and sing at weddings merely. They face human rights violations. That is to say, employers deny them jobs based on their status.

The police do not record cases if others commit a crime against them. Transgender do not report rape, sexual abuse, or harassment. Put differently, they worry that the police will accuse them. They frequently do not recognize their rights. They are marginalized economically in particular. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the local services reported four killings of transgender women in 2018. They have reported 54 murders since 2015 too. This is the state of the rights of transgender in Pakistan.

Transgender Person’s Protection Of Rights Act

On 6^th May 2018, Pakistan’s National Assembly passed the historic Transgender Person’s Protection of Rights Act. Pakistan befalls the first Asian country to legally recognize self-perceived gender identity. It is one of the few in the world too. This act is commendable for its range, clarity, and nuance. It allows the people of Pakistan to self-identify their genders. The law calls for the government to establish protection centers for transgender people who believe that their lives are in danger. It upholds their right to inheritance. Also, they have a right to Education, Healthcare, Employment, Transportation, Provision of goods and services, Private or Government Establishments, and Residential properties. Alongside this, they can run for Federal Offices, and Assemblies and have access to official places. Moreover, it prohibits discrimination in public places, like; Workplaces, Schools, Public Transportation, and Doctor’s Offices.

Be Ghar Foundation

The founder of the Be Ghar Foundation runs a shelter for transgender people. Her name is Ashee Butt. She said, “The implementation of this law represents a battle. We have won this battle but only half. We have to fight. As a result, this law is enforced. The government must enforce it in its genuine spirit.”

Amnesty International Pakistan

Rabia Mehmood a researcher at Amnesty International Pakistan said, “Pakistan’s transgender community has high hopes for this bill. Therefore, its implementation is crucial. It will make certain that they can live their lives with respect and dignity.”

In Pakistan, the rights of transgender remain taboo. They have to hide their intimate orientation even in large cities. The British developed the Pakistan Panel Code in 1860.

The government should take action to accomplish the well-being and safety of transgender in Pakistan. People should regard them with equality and respect. That is to say, they rightfully deserve it. Individuals must realize that this is a war but these people do not have to withstand it alone. They are humans like us. They deserve good Education, job opportunities, and equitable and decent treatment like other members of society.

There’s a dire need to take initiatives to mitigate the issue. Apart from this, we should raise awareness among the masses of society to change their backward mindset. Also, people should amplify their voices to fight for the rights of transgender in Pakistan. However, being a citizen, we should provide them safety and security to live a peaceful life.