Meet the ‘First transgender’ of Pakistan to enter M.Phil

In our society where transgenders are seen with contempt and outstretched hands in front of people, Karachi’s transgender Nisha Rao is proving people’s views wrong by getting higher education.

Nisha Rao is the first transgender in Pakistan to have a law degree from Sindh Muslim College, after which she was recently admitted to LLM (M.Phil in Law) at Karachi University.

In an exclusive interview, Nisha expressed happiness at being admitted to M.Phil as the first transgender and said, “I have been very upset for two months. I took the exam in June this year It lasted for an hour but now I was informed 4 days ago that I have been admitted.”

Regarding her degree, Nisha further said that a two-year LLM degree is equivalent to an M.Phil, which would be the first time transgenders would perform in Pakistan.

According to Nisha, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Dr Khalid Iraqi, said that Karachi University is the first university in Pakistan to award an LLM degree to transgenders.

Regarding the education of transgenders, Nisha said that due to lack of resources for this gender in our country, it is very difficult for them to get an education, they are not admitted to educational institutions and there is no quota system for them.

Nisha says, “I have paid a fee of Rs 140,000 for one semester of LLM. Just imagine it is impossible for transgender who begs on the streets to get higher education.” ۔ This is where the challenges begin, whether we beg or complete our education. With so much money, transgenders can’t make up their minds about education. It will cost me about Rs 4 lakh to complete my LLM degree.

Nisha added that she has also bought a Scooty worth Rs 170,000 to go to university easily.

Nisha complained that there are no scholarships for transgenders. Nisha says she is not asking for scholarships for herself, but it is better for universities to offer scholarships to transgenders than to beg.

“Don’t they know what our living hood is?” For me, of course, there should be no discount on the fee, but for those transgenders who want to study and are in need, the fee should be reduced.

Nisha Rao said that the attitude of the administration in the university was very good with her and she cooperated a lot while she was personally called and congratulated on getting admission.

When Nisha was asked if she was afraid that people would harass her or tighten sentences. So she replied in a confident tone, ‘It all depends on the personality of a transgender, if a transgender speaks well, puts on less make-up, goes well, people don’t bother him, I still I have never faced such an unpleasant situation.

The decision to admit Nisha was taken by the Board of Advanced Studies and Research: VC

Karachi University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Khalid Iraqi told that we should encourage transgenders to become active citizens.

He said that the decision to admit Nisha Rao was taken at a meeting of the Board of Advanced Studies and Research (BSR).

A dean who was present at the meeting told that Nisha Rao had low marks in the test but due to her eunuch and interest in higher education, she was allowed to do M.Phil in law exclusively.

When Khalid Iraqi was asked if a transgender at the university would apply for the position of teacher, would be considered for the job?

Giving very brief answers, he said that the decision would depend on the selection committee.

The KVC of the university said that any student can contact the financial aid office of the university for providing scholarships to aspiring transgenders.

In response to a question about the university’s policy to protect transgenders from inappropriate behaviour of the people, He said that action would be taken against such people in accordance with the law.

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