Making history: Transgender to contest NA election from Okara

OKARA: Taking a practical step towards constitutionally-backed provision stipulating ‘fundamental rights’ of every citizen, a transgender person is set to contest the National Assembly election from Okara.

Nayyab Ali is an active member All Pakistan Transgender Election Network in Punjab and also ran a four-month literacy programme for transgender people in Okara. Ali is also a member of the provincial voter committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan.

In an interview, she detailed her ordeal she faced on the vocational front. Ali narrates that life knocked her down several times, but it didn’t dampen her courage. She is confident to emerge triumphant in the NA-141 election as an independent candidate.

“I have taken it as a challenge and have already started my campaign on social media and soon will get in touch with my gurus and community for their assistance,” Ali said in the interview.

She is also running a campaign on her Facebook page and couple of days ago posted a banner revealing her candidacy as MNA in the upcoming elections due in July. The banner also carried a picture of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his sister Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah.

Ali further said: “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 went on to say that she wanted the government to provide her security during campaign rallies as it is going to be a major challenge to compete against influential candidates.

According to Ali, she was disowned by her family for being transgender when she was in the eight standard.

“I left my family and started living with a guru, who was kind to me and let me continue my studies,” said the Punjab University graduate with a degree in Botany. She is also writing a book which she plans on publishing after the elections.