In a move to shed light on the challenges faced by Khawaja Siras in Sindh, Shehzadi Rai, a representative of transgender persons associated with the Gender Interactive Alliance, addressed the media at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday. The pressing issue highlighted was the limited voting rights of Khawaja Siras, with only approximately 3,000 of them currently registered to vote despite a significant population in the region.
Rai emphasized the lack of consensus among Khawaja Siras, attributing it to the oversight of the government and the Election Commission of Pakistan. According to her, the Election Commission has not reached an agreement with Khawaja Sira leaders, leading to the exclusion of around 1,000 individuals from the voting registry.
The transgender community is now advocating for a revisitation of the electoral registration process for Khawaja Siras. Rai expressed concern over the Election Commission’s failure to address this issue, stressing the need for an inclusive approach. She urged a collaborative effort between the commission and Khawaja Sira leaders to ensure fair representation in the electoral process.
Beyond voting rights, Shehzadi Rai called for the implementation of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018. She highlighted a significant setback caused by the Federal Shariat Court’s decision against the legislation, resulting in a halt to the issuance of identity cards for Khawaja Siras. This denial of identity, Rai argued, has profound consequences for the community.
Pointing out the negligence of the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), Rai revealed that letters from both the Sindh Human Rights Commission and the National Human Rights Commission urging the resumption of the identity card process have been ignored. This disregard further compounds the challenges faced by Khawaja Siras, depriving them of essential rights and recognition.
