All Pakistan Transgender Election Network Launched

In an unprecedented move the Transgender networks of Pakistan have joined hands to launch Pakistans first national network on the political empowerment of their community named All Pakistan Transgender Election Network (APTEN)

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Oct, 2017 ) :In an unprecedented move the Transgender networks of Pakistan have joined hands to launch Pakistans first national network on the political empowerment of their community named All Pakistan Transgender Election Network (APTEN).

APTEN is an amalgam of different organizations including Trans Action Khyber (TAP) Pakhtukhwa, Sindh Transgender Welfare Network (STWN), Punjab Transgender Association (PTA) and Balochistan Alliance for Transgender Community (BATIC), Blue Veins, PHRO , Hewad , peace Justice and Youth organization, Youth for Democracy and Development, Political Participation key to empowerment for transgender community in Pakistan.

According to a press release issued here on Tuesday, the members of the APTEN called upon the Federal And Provincial Govts,Election Commission of Pakistan, NADRA, UN agencies, Civil Society and organizations to support and coordinate with the network to ensure their political empowerment and participation in the upcoming general elections in 2018.

Qamar Naseem programme coordinator of Bleu Veins, who is also member of the Chief Minister's Special Community on Rights of the Transgender person KP and member of the national task force said that while the visibility of transgender people has blossomed in the media, transgender leaders remain close to invisible in public office.

These breakthroughs for trans people in the media are not reflected in everyday society, he added. 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.

The political parties are also requested to give them space and acknowledge their efforts. Once this community is groomed, it will be an asset for the country. Farzana Jan president of the TransAction Alliance Khyber Pakhtunkhwa says that launching of the All Pakistan transgender Election Network is historical and defining moment.

Given the staggering rates of violence and discrimination faced by trans people throughout Pakistan, it is unsurprising that the majority of trans people are not out beyond a very select and trusted circle.

Shahzadi Rai, Advisor of the Sindh Transgender Welfare Network (STWN) while speaking to media 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.

Ihsan Khosa Baloch of Petarian Human Rights organization (PHRO) working in Sindh said Being as citizen of Pakistan, trans community has full right to contest elections and hold office, but again this opportunity is far from being access due to many reasons among which little formal knowledge about politics and political grooming.

Komal Afridi president of the Balochistan Alliance for Transgender Community (BATIC) said we believe the time is right for change in Pakistan, to bring about equality for all. Nayab Ali of Punjab Transgender Association (PTA) claimed that The transgender community is still neglected in democratic development of the country.

Although they have been registered as voters and now have CNIC with their identity for which they longed for, but their status is yet to be changed in society which is only possible through political empowerment Taimur Kamal coordinator of Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network (PCSN) and chairman of PGYO said Civil Society mobilization is a way of supporting trans community's political empowerment by amplifying their voices, as well as an important vertical accountability mechanism for holding state institutions and service providers to account.

Across provinces civil society organizations are standing up the right of transgender community.