Transgenders speak out for obtaining a driving license in the Federal Capital
The transgender community has raised their voice for obtaining a driving license as their basic right in the Federal Capital, Islamabad.
The representatives of the transgender community want their long-pending issue of driving license resolved by the government. According to them, they have been fighting for their rights for a long time now and still awaiting the decision to issue a driving license to them which will make their life more convenient in everyday tasks. Currently, the transgender community is facing victimization while driving and being fined for driving without driving license. A representative of the community stated that they often face discriminatory behaviour while they travel on public transport and a lot of people make fun of them which has heightened the problem for us to an unbearable level. It’s not possible for us to travel between cities with our own vehicle and is bound to travel on public transport due to non-issuance of driving license.
A transgender Alvina told that I am supposed to travel in routine for performing on various events and concerts but very often get involved in a debate with the traffic warden over the driving license issue. There have been several occasions where we are forced to pay a penalty by the traffic police and also face unethical and discriminatory behavior in the process. Nobody is ready to hear us, which is inappropriate in terms of the laws. It is to be noted here that the transgender community was also facing an issue regarding an identity card which was recently been resolved. But now they demand of getting a driving license so that they can also work independently and find ways to earn a respectable earning in the society.
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According to the members of the community, other provinces are issuing the driving license and the same should be happening in the capital territory. However, only one of the transgender has attained a driving license in Islamabad amid several references and persistent efforts till now. They claim that after facing long queues, the authorities deny issuing a driving license and send back without any reasoning. The transgender community is very much committed to fighting for their basic rights in the society and demanding the government to make things easier for their survival thus cancelling out the discrimination from the public.
On this whole issue, an official of the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), Muhammad Matloob claimed that they have already started the process of issuing driving licenses to the transgender community. He said that the authorities are committed to the solution of this problem and will not delay the process of taking applications and conducting driving tests.
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