The transgender community in Pakistan

[MenInG]

Pakistani authorities are reportedly allowing controversial film "Joyland" to be shown in the country after all, following earlier reports that the government had blocked the film's release a week before it was scheduled to debut in theatres.

"Joyland" is notable for being the first Pakistani movie in history to screen at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, winning the festival's Un Certain Regard Jury Prize and the unofficial Queer Palm.

"As the Ranas — a happily patriarchal joint family — yearn for the birth of a baby boy to continue the family line, their youngest son secretly joins an erotic dance theatre and falls for an ambitious trans starlet," reads the film's synopsis on the Cannes Film Festival website. "Their impossible love story slowly illuminates the entire Rana family’s desire for a sexual rebellion."

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/movies/ot...sedgntp&cvid=3435f53a338b44bb99097a30137c294b

 

[MenInG]

A petition was filed in Lahore High Court (LHC) against the screening of Saim Sadiq’s Joyland movie, ARY News reported.

The petitioner maintained that the “film contains highly objectionable material which do not conform with the social values and moral standards of our society and is clearly repugnant to the norms of decency and morality”.

The applicant pleaded with the court to cancel the license and censorship certificate of the movie.

The petition comes after the Central Board of Film Censors this week finally allowed the screening of Pakistani film ‘Joyland’, which was banned almost a week before its release.

The Central Board of Film Censors had reviewed the Pakistani film on directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif – who had formed an eight-member committee to assess the complaints as well as merits to decide on film’s release.

In a statement, Censor Board Chairman Muhammad Tahir Hassan said that the full board had allowed the local screening of Joyland after deleting some parts. “A certificate for the screening of the film is being issued,” he added.

However, the government of Punjab has banned the screening of Saim Siddiq’s Joyland movie.

The notice sent by Punjab Information and Culture Department to Sarmad Sultan Khoosat on November 17 read that the Joyland team cannot exhibit their film in the jurisdiction of Punjab province till further notice by the Government of Punjab.

ARY

 

[akbarm96]

It's once again social media molwis that are against the release of the film, nobody complained about it when it got oscar...

 

[MenInG]

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[daytrader]

Transgender anchor survives gun attack

Marvia Malik, Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, survived a gun attack on Thursday night outside her residence in the Lahore Cantonment area.

According to Ms Malik, she was returning from a pharmacy when two attackers opened indiscriminate fire.

In her statement to the police, Ms Malik claimed she had been receiving threatening phone calls and messages from unknown numbers for raising her voice for the transgender community.

Ms Malik said she left Lahore out of fear for her life and relocated to Islamabad and Multan. She had returned to Lahore a few days back for a surgery. She said her activism was “a major factor” behind the assassination attempt.

DAWN

 

[SalimBhai]

Transgender anchor survives gun attack

Marvia Malik, Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, survived a gun attack on Thursday night outside her residence in the Lahore Cantonment area.

According to Ms Malik, she was returning from a pharmacy when two attackers opened indiscriminate fire.

In her statement to the police, Ms Malik claimed she had been receiving threatening phone calls and messages from unknown numbers for raising her voice for the transgender community.

Ms Malik said she left Lahore out of fear for her life and relocated to Islamabad and Multan. She had returned to Lahore a few days back for a surgery. She said her activism was “a major factor” behind the assassination attempt.

DAWN

Glad she is safe.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, Marvia Malik, cheated death when she was attacked by gunmen outside her residence in Lahore on the night of February 23.

According to Dawn, Malik was returning from a pharmacy when two men opened fire. In a statement to the police, Malik claimed she had been receiving frequent threatening calls and messages from unknown numbers. She also claimed that her activism was a “major factor” behind the assassination attempt.

Malik is currently residing outside Lahore to ensure her safety.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

The transgender and LGBT community is a complex problem in Pakistan.

On one hand, there is a severe violation of human rights by some factors in the general public, but on the other hand - and this may come surprising to some of you guys - but this community suffers an even bigger human rights abuse from their own kind.

There is a very strong mafia of transgenders that sits on top of this community to run the sex n prostitution business under the guise of providing dance n music shows at some weddings. And trust me, it’s a big business in Pakistan. It mostly happens in the remote and rural weddings, engagements, male child birth etc celebrations.

A team of US Pakistani doctors and surgeons that I know, visited Lahore, with the intention to help the members of this community. The idea was to see if anyone from this community could take advantage of any surgical procedure that could help him/her improve his quality of life and if he/she can perhaps try to live like a normal person?

To their shock n horror, these doctors were given death threats at gun point by the mafia goons of this community to stay away from any member of this community. And if any doctor/surgeon who tried to provide any medical/surgical help to a transgender, will be gunned down.

I participated in a general meeting of this small team of US Pakistani physicians/surgeons who had returned from Pakistan, to know these stories. We were all left in shock.
What filth and what kinda injustice is this that this community faces?
We were baffled on how to help them?

And no, I am NOT supporting this life style, neither I am a supporter of nurturing and grooming anyone who gets a spark, to become a gay or a lesbian No, that’s shaitaani influence in my opinion.

But my notion to preserve the rights of those who are born with these generic issues

However it looks like this is what our movie makers are leaning towards. They want to copy west to please someone and win some award by promoting and supporting an LGBT lifestyle in countries like pakistan rather than shedding a light on what this community faces as human beings?


Whoever wants to make a movie on this community, should actually try to bring these bitter facts and ground realities that this community actually faces.

 

[SalimBhai]

The transgender and LGBT community is a complex problem in Pakistan.

On one hand, there is a severe violation of human rights by some factors in the general public, but on the other hand - and this may come surprising to some of you guys - but this community suffers an even bigger human rights abuse from their own kind.

There is a very strong mafia of transgenders that sits on top of this community to run the sex n prostitution business under the guise of providing dance n music shows at some weddings. And trust me, it’s a big business in Pakistan. It mostly happens in the remote and rural weddings, engagements, male child birth etc celebrations.

A team of US Pakistani doctors and surgeons that I know, visited Lahore, with the intention to help the members of this community. The idea was to see if anyone from this community could take advantage of any surgical procedure that could help him/her improve his quality of life and if he/she can perhaps try to live like a normal person?

To their shock n horror, these doctors were given death threats at gun point by the mafia goons of this community to stay away from any member of this community. And if any doctor/surgeon who tried to provide any medical/surgical help to a transgender, will be gunned down.

I participated in a general meeting of this small team of US Pakistani physicians/surgeons who had returned from Pakistan, to know these stories. We were all left in shock.
What filth and what kinda injustice is this that this community faces?
We were baffled on how to help them?

And no, I am NOT supporting this life style, neither I am a supporter of nurturing and grooming anyone who gets a spark, to become a gay or a lesbian No, that’s shaitaani influence in my opinion.

But my notion to preserve the rights of those who are born with these generic issues

However it looks like this is what our movie makers are leaning towards. They want to copy west to please someone and win some award by promoting and supporting an LGBT lifestyle in countries like pakistan rather than shedding a light on what this community faces as human beings?


Whoever wants to make a movie on this community, should actually try to bring these bitter facts and ground realities that this community actually faces.

Did you see the film joyland? Also the transgender community has been part of the subcontinent way before the British or central asians arrived.. Its indigenous to the land

 

[sweep_shot]

Did you see the film joyland? Also the transgender community has been part of the subcontinent way before the British or central asians arrived.. Its indigenous to the land

You are confusing intersex/Hijra people with western-style transgenders.

Intersex/Hijra = Someone with a genuine biological defect.

Transgender = Someone who wants to change his/her gender because he/she doesn't like it.

 

[SalimBhai]

You are confusing intersex/Hijra people with western-style transgenders.

Intersex/Hijra = Someone with a genuine biological defect.

Transgender = Someone who wants to change his/her gender because he/she doesn't like it.

I think you are mistaken about the subject

 

[sweep_shot]

I think you are mistaken about the subject

You are confusing intersex/Hijra with those who just want to change their genders.

One is a biological defect. Another is just a first world problem.

 

[MenInG]

The Biden administration in United States is offering a $500,000 grant to promote English language skills in Pakistan, with a specific focus on transgender youth, Fox News reported on Tuesday.

The grant, which is part of the US State Department's efforts to help Pakistani youth better participate in the global community and prepare them for success in the workplace, will provide professional development courses for English language teachers from non-mainstream institutions, novice Pakistani English language teachers, and transgender youth and Afghan teachers, students, and young professionals residing in Pakistan.

The programme component that focuses on transgender youth is accepting proposals from applicants for a minimum of $25,000 and a maximum of $75,000 to implement intensive professional development courses for Pakistani transgender youth between the ages of 13-25 and Afghan teachers, students, and young professionals residing in Pakistan.

The grant aims to improve English language communication skills among trainees and connect them to a professional alumni network.

The State Department's human rights report for Pakistan has praised the country's 2018 Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act. The report suggests that Pakistani police should prioritise ways to prevent increased levels of violence against transgender people. It notes that public venues in Pakistan were less likely to host "transgender events" than "religiously based anti-LGBTQI+ protests".

A spokesperson for the State Department clarified that the grant funds will not be used for gender transitions. Instead, the grant focuses on providing marginalised communities, in this case, transgender youth, with integral skills that help unlock educational and employability opportunities.

Interested applicants to the grant programme are encouraged to address the most effective ways to reach the greatest number of Pakistani transgender youth and Afghan teachers, students, and young professionals from diverse locations across Pakistan.

Express Tribune

 

[MenInG]

The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) ruled on Friday that a person cannot change their gender at will and declared certain sections of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 to be against Sharia.

Acting FSC Chief Justice Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer and Justice Khadim Hussain announced the reserved verdict on a set of petitions challenging the law. The written verdict is awaited.

The National Assembly had enacted the Transgender Persons (Protection of Right) Act in 2018 to provide legal recognition to transgender persons and ensure that discrimination against transgender persons in various walks of life shall be punishable.

Hailed as a ‘landmark’ law that offered protection to a marginalised community, the legislation however has been embroiled in litigation scrutiny since its passage.

In September 2022, the FSC had taken up petitions challenging the legislation — making Jamaat-i-Islami’s Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and TV anchor Orya Maqbool Jan parties in them along with transgender persons Almaas Boby and Bubbly Malik.

Simultaneously, amendments to the law have also been sought under the Intersex Persons (Protection of Rights) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which called for the deletion of all those sections deemed against the injunctions of Islam and the Constitution.

In the verdict announced today, the court observed that gender was related to one’s biological sex. It further noted that many acts of worship, including praying, fasting and performing Hajj, were also connected to gender.

The court further stated that Islam provided transgender persons with fundamental rights, adding that their rights were also enshrined in the Constitution. It observed that the government was bound to provide transgender persons with all basic rights as well as health, education, and economic facilities.

The FSC declared Sections 2(f) (definition of ‘gender identity’) and 2(iii) (definition of ‘Transgender Person’) of the act to be against Sharia.

The FSC also ruled Sections 3 (recognition of identity of transgender person) and 7 (right to inherit) of the Transgenders Act 2018 to be against Sharia.

The court said that the gender of transgender persons was determined on the basis of their physical attributes.

The FSC verdict stated that the Sharia did not allow anyone to undergo gender reassignment and that no one could change their gender at their will. “One’s gender can only remain what it was assigned at birth,” the court ruled.

Regarding Section 7 (right to inherit), the court said that under this clause anyone could change their gender and seek an inheritance of their choosing. The court said that a share in inheritance could only be obtained according to a person’s gender.

The FSC further ruled that it would be against Islamic laws if a man or woman called themselves a transgender person irrespective of their biological sex.

DAWN