Advancing Equality: An Analysis of Legal Rights and Protections for the Transgender Community in Pakistan

Abstract

The subject of the transgender in Pakistan is at once both a contemporary issue and one having significant social impact this paper will consider the position of the transgender in law in Pakistan, focusing on the legal protections afforded to the transgender community in the state. However, whether these laws are actually passed, enforced, or enforced in good faith in all contexts is another question entirely-as is the law that has received the most attention: The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018. This study, which used a mixed-methods design combining the qualitative interviews with transgender individuals and the quantitative analysis of legal case outcomes, tracks the gap between law and practice. Here, the results provide evidence that there are still obstacles in the last mile of implementation due to social stigma, bureaucratic inertia, and lack of legal literacy. Moreover, that research identifies important areas in which the current legal protections are lacking and suggests policy reforms necessary to work toward equal opportunities and inclusion. The study therefore adds to wider discussion on human rights and equality in Pakistan, and suggests clear directions for legal and societal reform