ISLAMABAD - For the first time in the history of Okara city of Punjab , a transgender woman will be contesting for the National Assembly seat.

Nayyab Ali will contest the election from NA-141 (now NA-144) as an independent candidate.

Currently, Arif Ch of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz is the member of National Assembly from the constituency after having secured 105,162 votes in the last elections.

Nayab Ali is a member of the provincial voter committee of the Election Commission of Pakistan and also an active part of the All Pakistan Transgender Election Network in Punjab.

Sharing her life experiences, Nayab said that she was disowned by her family when she was in class eight.

She expressed that even though life challenged her hard, but she refused to give up and remained motivated and passionate about serving the nation and her people.

“Unlike my opponents from political parties, I am not financially strong and can’t buy votes, but I am confident that the social work I have been doing will help me win the seat”, she added in an interview to Express Tribune.

The aspiring lawmaker expressed that she only wanted the government to provide her security during the campaign, saying it is going to be a major challenge to compete against influential candidates.

Transgender rights are being acknowledged in Pakistan on a massive scale. Earlier, Pakistan opened its first ever institute for educational and vocational training for the transgender community.

Transgender candidates were allowed to run for office in last general elections for the first time in the country's history.