Transgender Set To Contest National Assembly Polls For First Time

For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a transgender will be contesting for the National Assembly seat in Okara. Nayyab Ali, a transgender from Okara district of Punjab will contest the election from NA-141 (now NA-144) as an independent candidate.

Islamabad, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 5th May, 2018) : For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a transgender will be contesting for the National Assembly seat in Okara. Nayyab Ali, a transgender from Okara district of Punjab will contest the election from NA-141 (now NA-144) as an independent candidate.

Ali is a member of the provincial voter committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan and also an active part of the All Pakistan Transgender Election Network in Punjab. While sharing her life experiences, Ali said that she was disowned by her family for being transgender when she was in class eight.

She expressed that even though life challenged her hard, but, she refused to give up and remained motivated and passionate about serving the nation and her people.

"Unlike my opponents from political parties, I am not financially strong and can't buy votes, but I am confident that the social work I have been doing will help me win the seat", she added in an interview.

The aspiring lawmaker expressed that she only wanted the government to provide her security during the campaign, saying it is going to be a major challenge to compete against influential candidates.

Transgender rights are being acknowledged in Pakistan on a massive scale. Earlier, Pakistan opened its first ever institute for educational and vocational training for the transgender community.