Transvestites usually considered symbols of hatred, detestation, oppression and subjected to every sort of cruelty even from their blood relatives. They are most vulnerable and marginalized segment of the society. No one bothers to say a single word of sympathy for the neglected people and taken as if they have to endure the hardships, cruelties and injustices in their entire life. No word of prosperity and happiness is ever uttered by anyone for them and they are always found telling painful tales.
The transvestites are disgusted of the intolerable society, which even are not ashamed to get them danced to enhance the celebrations of their events, but, never ready to accept them as useful normal humans and even their siblings also hesitate in giving them due honour and respect.
There are about 50000 transvestites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and these persons are also found in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). During operation against terrorism seventeen hundred transvestites became temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) only from Orakzai Agency. 90 cases of rape, violence, extortion etc were reported in 2016, he lamented.
Transvestites belong to different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; consider the provincial metropolis Peshawar, a safer abode for them but even this city is also not a secure place to protect them from usual issues. "We face starvation for days as the money we earn paid in head of rent for the roof acquired for residing," told sobbing transvestites.
Dilbar, a transvestite from Charsadda converted into Dilruba narrated his tale that he is able to get married but his manners are completely womanish, which had become a nuisance for him in the village. "I have LTV license and skilled tailor as well but the society does not accept me to be a driver or run a tailoring shop, therefore, I joined dancing to feed myself," he lamented and added that he curses the profession of dancing.
We are Muslims and offer prayers five times and always beseech Allah for provision of suitable jobs to give up dancing, which the society hates. All of them seek supplication in this regard, expressed Farzana, a provincial president of Trans Action Association (TAA).
Dr Mufti Shaukat from Darul-Uloom Haqaniya explained the religious point of view regarding the transvestites and said Islam does not allow anyone to mock and insult any human being and they (transvestites) are also creature of the Creator, to be treated equally, he added that the profession, they adopt (Dancing) is un-Islamic act, therefore onus is on the government to provide them suitable employment opportunities. Legislations should be introduced for their protection under the Islamic norms, he suggested.
Naeem, a Director of Social Welfare Department said that they needed to have proactive participation of transgender persons in all democratic activities and system, including participation in policies framed for their welfare. The state should take measures to ensure their respect and honour in the society, which they once enjoyed in our cultural and social life. Undoing centuries of discrimination that the transgender community has faced, will require targeted interventions by the state and we are committed to respond.
Farukh Saqlain, Director of Human Rights, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while sharing his views said that legal safeguards to prevent the violation of the transvestite community' rights and institutional mechanisms to address their specific concerns are required to be put in place. Without protection of human rights, there can be no democracy or justification for democracy.
Spokesman of the provincial government Mushtaq Ghani has said in this regard that the KP government is clear for protection of the transvestite as it had allocated Rs 200million for their welfare and planning to offer soft loans to the cross-dressers to enter into entrepreneurship.
Comments
Comments are closed.