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The government has issued its first third-gender passport to a transgender activist in Peshawar who hailed the move as a step forward for the community.
Activist Farzana Riaz said the new passport would help her campaign globally on behalf of her community, who are also known as khawajasiras — an umbrella term denoting a third sex that includes transsexuals, transvestites and eunuchs.
“I have received my passport which mentions my gender as X and not as a male or female,” Farzana told AFP on Saturday.
“Earlier I had a passport which had described my gender as a male. But this time I told the authorities that I won't accept my passport if it doesn't identify me as a transgender,” the 30-year-old co-founder and president of rights organisation TransAction said.
“Now it will be more convenient for me to travel abroad because earlier I faced problems at international airports because of a contradiction in my appearance and sex mention on my passport,” she added.
Modern-day transgender people in the country claim to be cultural heirs of the eunuchs who thrived at the courts of Mughal emperors that ruled the Indian subcontinent for two centuries until the British arrived in the 19th century and banned them.
In 2009, Pakistan became one of the first countries in the world to legally recognise a third sex, allowing transgenders to obtain identity cards, while several have also run in elections. They number at least half a million people in the country, according to several studies.
Like Farzana, many earn their living by being called upon for rituals such as blessing newborns or to bring life to weddings and parties as dancers — and, sometimes, in more clandestine ways.
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Comments (17) Closed
Good beginning. Now, what about their religious position in events like Umrah and Hajj? Their family life has also to be regulated.
Well, it's a fair decision by the govt., well in line with the human rights standards of the modern world. Such steps do not harm the interests of a country but give a modern and humane look to the overall stature of a country.
Bravo!
World first?
Long Live Pakistan!!!
I am very happy for transgenders.. way to go Farzana Risz, very proud of you.
Wow great
A good step!
Well done by setting a good example for human rights.
Well Done Pakistan.
It is a good humanitarian Step. Nature is unkind to transgenders and gays by not giving normal body like majority of other people. Humans should not be unfair to them for how they are born. Nature does not make anybody perfect, everybody has some body defects which make them vulnerable to various diseases. Some have more defects some have less, nobody has control on this. As humans we should respect and accept the way nature has made all of us.
Good step towards equality and tolerance. The govt should introduce more inclusive laws to promote more tolerance in society.
Good show. The Pakistani Government does come up with pleasant surprises.
It is a step in the right direction. Let us extend our humanity to All.
This is great that Pakistani government is trying to set an example to be tolerant & respectful of everybody's human rights.
Good step in right direction. Transgenders suffered a lot throughout history. It is high time civilized society treat them as fellow human beings. I would go one step further and allocate job reservation to them.
That's a positive step.
Such a great step towards human rights preservation...thumbs up