ISLAMABAD: A documentary screening on Monday explored the unique perspective and lived experience of Nayyab Ali, a transgender election candidate in NA-142 in Okara, Punjab.

The film, titled Vote for X, was directed by Tazeen Bari and launched by Heinrich Boell Stiftung (HBS) to highlight the challenges, passion and commitment of the transgender community for their rights.

Vote for X explored the 2018 elections from Ms Ali’s perspective, detailing the highs and lows of her election journey from campaigning to election day. The film highlighted the challenges facing gender minorities in Pakistan and their fight to be recognised as equal citizens through her personal story.

The documentary showed that though recognised by law, which stipulates the possibility of selecting a perceived gender on identity cards, the transgender community remains socially, legally and politically marginalised in Pakistan.

The 2018 general elections, however, marked a turning point regarding awareness and visibility of rights for the transgender community, as for the first time five transgender women contested elections for seats in the provincial and national assemblies.

Speaking to Dawn, Ms Ali said: “I faced many difficulties during my election campaign. When I announced that I will contest for the general election, many around me made fun of me. Hooting, harassment, security issues and the behaviour of administrative authorities were the issues I faced during the whole process.”

She said that the community has high hopes that this documentary will help them lobby for reserved seats in upcoming elections, and demanded the implementation of existing pro-transgender legislation and amendments to others that deal with education and the right to inheritance.

She said: “We also need a separate commission to protect their rights like National Commission on the Status of Transgender. Government and the human rights ministry should play their role in creating awareness about our rights among the masses as we are also human beings and have equal rights like other men and women here.”

The launch was followed by a panel discussion that featured various transgender voices including Ms Ali, filmmaker Ms Bari and government officials and civil society members.

Speakers discussed the possible modes of action and advocacy to be taken to ensure the participation of the transgender community in the democratic process in Pakistan. It was emphasized that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act was landmark but need to be amended after feedback from transgender stakeholders so it could be effectively utilised.

During the discussion, Ms Bari said she felt the duty to tell Nayyab’s story in the most authentic way and that was through letting Nayyab be the teller of her own story.

This documentary shed light on many of the invisible barriers for transgender candidates who want to take part the electoral process.

At one point in the film, Ms Ali speaks about the need for transgender reserved seats, saying: “Transgender [people] need to have access to reserved seats but the government says the trans-community does not have enough numbers to come on reserved seats. I don’t think we know the exact number of trans in this country and if there is a will to give the representation to transgender, then why can’t a trans-woman get a seat on a woman’s reserved seat?”

HBS communications manager Mavra Bari said Ms Ali’s story was a unique one, her experiences as a victim and survivor of acid violence was indicative of the prejudice existing against transgender people in our society but her work and resilience reflects the hope and perseverance of this community as well.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2018