A transgender woman from Peshawar has filed a petition in the High Court, demanding the allocation of seats for transgender people in the provincial assembly, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Saturday.
Sobia Khan, who has submitted her nomination papers as an independent candidate for PK-81, has challenged the rejection of her application by the Returning Officer.
In her petition, filed through advocate Batul Rifaat, Subia Khan argued that transgender women have the right to vote as well as to contest elections.
She said that representation of transgender people in the assembly is necessary to address their issues and protect their rights.
She also pointed out that there are reserved seats for minorities and women in the assembly, and asked why transgender people should be excluded from this provision.
She requested the court to direct the Chief Election Commissioner, the Provincial Election Commission, the Returning Officer of PK-81 and the government to consider her nomination for the seat reserved for eunuchs. She also sought a stay order on the election process until her petition is decided.