Transgender Protection – Counter Argument

Argument 1 – Memoona
Counter from PDF: The government plans to include the transgender population in the Ehsaas
Program and will provide them with Health Cards.
Argument: While the government's intention to include transgender people in the Ehsaas
Program and provide Health Cards is commendable, a 2020 Lahore study counters this optimism
by revealing that 70% of transgender individuals still experience poor healthcare quality. Issues
like depression, anxiety, and medical neglect due to stigma, lack of ID, and costs persist. This
contrast highlights the gap between policy intentions and the reality of healthcare accessibility
for transgender people in Pakistan, emphasizing the need for more effective and inclusive
healthcare solutions.

Argument 2 – Maha
Counter from PDF: The Centre could serve as a safe space where transgender individuals can
seek refuge and report instances of violence or harassment.
Argument: Even with the Trans Protection Centre in Islamabad aiming to offer safety, violence
against transgender individuals remains high, including an incident in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
18 reported deaths by Amnesty International from September 2021 to October 2022. This
alarming data highlights a critical safety crisis within the transgender community, demonstrating
that the creation of the Centre, while a step in the right direction, is not sufficient on its own to
protect this vulnerable group from violence and discrimination. One of the reasons is center’s
location in Chak Shehzad is impractical, being far from key transgender areas like Bari Imam,
Mehr Abadi, and Zia Masjid, limiting access and effectiveness. No expansion to other regions
has occurred yet.

Argument 3 – Muskan
Counter from PDF: The Centre could offer healthcare services tailored to the needs of
transgender individuals.
Example: Despite the proposal for healthcare services tailored for transgender individuals,
research reveals a stark disparity in access to and quality of healthcare. A significant 78.75% of
the transgender community feels underserved by qualified healthcare providers, with 92%
experiencing discrimination in healthcare settings. This discrimination ranges from care refusal
and harassment to verbal abuse and violence, highlighting a gap in the system's ability to cater
effectively to their healthcare needs.

Argument 4 – Noor
Counter from PDF: The Centre could provide vocational training, career counseling, and
assistance with job placement.
Argument: A 2020 report by Ministry of Human rights found that no government office
followed the rule to give jobs to transgender people. For example, in Sindh, no jobs were given
to them, and there's missing information for Punjab. Because of this, even if there's a special
center to help transgender people with training and finding jobs, it might not work as expected.
The center's efforts need the government to actually follow its own job rules for transgender
people, or else the help might not reach those who need it most. A community member, Bindiya
Rana said
“We have not been given any rights and many from our community still have to beg; dance to
earn a living.”

Argument 5 – Sahar
Counter from PDF: The Act allows transgender individuals to self-identify their
gender…..providing them with legal protection against property disputes and ensuring their
rights to inheritance.
Argument: Legal recognition for transgender self-identification is an advancement. However,
the Federal Shariat Court's remark, suggesting, “Today people call themselves transgenders,
what will happen when they will call themselves ‘cats and dogs’ in the future. Will we call them
trans-species instead of transgender?” shows deep bias and misunderstanding. This perspective
could weaken the community's legal protections for inheritance and property rights.
The rights were provided under this act to some extent how, federak sharat chout ceased the
sections (f), 3 and 4 of this act as they had identity isses and private space issues. Thus a bill was
enacted in 2023 for renewal of their rights but that bill has not been passed yet.