HYDERABAD: Transgender rights activists have announced that their community would to hold the ‘Sindh Moorat March-2024’ in Hyderabad on Sunday (November 24) to press its demand of fundamental rights in the light the legislation that was struck down by the Federal Shariat Court in May 2023.

Speaking at news conference in the local press club on Friday, Mariam Shaikh, Shahzadi Rai, Sana Khan, Zehrish Khanzadi and Aradia Khan recalled that previously they had held the march in Karachi.

They strongly opposed the proposal that a transgender should verify his/her gender from a medical board for obtaining CNIC.

They said trans people, historically known as ‘khawajasiras’, had in the past held in high esteem. One was a soldier in the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar’s era and a number of other khawajasiras used to be given due respect by other emperors as well. Rajput rulers had also a heroic character of khawajasira, they said, and added that they wanted the same respect and due rights in the present day Pakistan.

They said that the transgender community has its own culture, a rich legacy and impressive history.

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024