Pakistan human rights minister appoints first transgender employee

Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister Dr Shireen Mazari has appointed a transgender woman to her department for the first time.

Dr Mazari announced the appointment of Ayesha Moghul today (May 30) on Twitter.

“Welcomed our first transgender Ayesha Moghul who is going to work in the [Ministry of Human Rights] as a resource person – Thank you,” Dr Mazari wrote.

Pakistan lags behind other countries on LGBT+ rights and acceptance

The move was widely praised in the replies. One Twitter user declared that it was a “great step,” while another said the move was “highly appreciated.”

The decision to appoint a transgender woman in the Ministry of Human Rights is a significant one as Pakistan lags behind other countries on LGBT+ rights and public acceptance.

Despite this, things improved for transgender people in the country last year when the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights Act) was passed.

“Welcomed our first transgender Ayesha Moghul who is going to work in the [Ministry of Human Rights] as a resource person – Thank you.”

– Dr Shireen Mazari, Minister for Human Rights in Pakistan

The law allows people to self-identify as male, female or non-binary and to have that identity recorded on official documents, including passports and ID cards.

ASIF HASSAN/AFP/Getty

It also prohibits discrimination against transgender people in public places, including schools, hospitals and public transport.

Two transgender people were murdered in Pakistan just months after the law protecting them was passed

Just months after the Act was passed, two transgender people were killed in horrifying crimes in Pakistan.