MANSEHRA: Maria Khan, the lone transgender individual contesting the July 25 general elections from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has complained she is being discriminated against because of her gender.

“I am in the running for the elections to serve men and women alike, but I am being discriminated against and the people laugh at me and mistreat me during the poll campaign as if I am some alien,” she said, while talking to Dawn here on Sunday.

Maria Khan, who is contesting from PK-31, said that her posters and banners, which were made from hard-earned money, were being torn apart by people.

“We have been making posters and banners from the money earned through dances in functions but these are removed at night,” she said.

She lashed out at a mindset in the society which was a big hurdle in the way of her campaign, saying a policeman deputed by district administration for her security seemed ashamed of even walking alongside her.

“Agonies and hardships, which start from our birth, are chasing us everywhere.

I appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take notice of all this,” said Ms Khan.

She said that there were only four transgender persons contesting the 2018 general elections across the country, and luckily she was the only one from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Ms Khan, who is also president of Shemale associations of Mansehra and Hazara division, however, said that men and women welcomed them when they carried out door-to-door campaign.

She said that though big guns were running against their taking part in the elections she was not afraid of them.

“Rumours are making rounds that I have stepped back from the race. I am very much in the field and would emerge as a winner on July 25,” insisted Ms Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2018