Pakistan Elections: Transgenders not allowed to vote

Lahore July 25 (IANS) For the first time in Pakistan s political history the Election Commission in Pakistan gave the duty of "observers" during polling to members of the transgender community however on Wednesday in Lahore they were not allowed to vote.
"There are reports that voters from the transgender community in Lahore are not being allowed to cast their ballot in male polling stations " Dawn reported.
Members of the transgender community are not only voting in the 11th general elections but also contesting. Five transgender candidates will be in the fray.
At the onset of the election campaign 13 transgender candidates filed their nomination papers for the contestable constituencies in both the national and provincial assemblies. But nine were forced to drop out due to lack of funds.
Unlike women and religious minorities transgenders do not have any reserved seats in parliament or the provincial houses.

--IANS ahm/soni/