Muneeb Butt will be playing the role of the first trans assistant commissioner in his upcoming project alongside Saba Qamar, but the decision has been rejected by the Pakistani transgender community.
The Koi Chand Rakh star wrote in the post that this role would challenge stereotypes in society.
Am really excited to announce that i am playing a very unique character of first Trans Assistant Commissioner in my upcoming project.
Something that breaks the stereotypes in our society.
Special thanks to my costar @sabaqamar7861 #Idreamentertainment #ARYDigitalNetwork #USAid pic.twitter.com/VNBGuqawED— Muneeb Butt (@muneeb_butt9) December 25, 2022
However, transgender activists were outraged by this casting choice and replied by pointing out that casting a transgender person would have been more empowering.
As a transgender rights activist, I would suggest you to hire a trans actor for this role. We don't need men to perform our lives!
— Aisha Mughal (@_aishamughal) December 27, 2022
Transgender activists on Twitter shared their belief that many trans people were unemployed and deserved authentic representation on public platforms. Therefore, it was not necessary to hire a man for this role.
Pakistan’s visual media has begun to present transgender people in a less traditional way. It depicts its members’ struggle for basic human rights and their achievements.
About Muneeb Butt
Muneeb Butt started acting in 2012 and has since featured in a number of prominent television series. Daldal (2017), Baandi (2018), Koi Chand Rakh (2018), Kaisa Hai Naseeban (2019), Yaariyan (2019), Qarar (2020), and Baddua (2021). He also appeared in Kaisa Hai Naseeban (2018), Yaariyan (2018), Qarar (2020), and Baddua (2021).
He is married to Aiman Khan, with whom he has appeared in serials such as Bay Qasoor (2015), Googly Muhalla (2015), Khatoon Manzil (2015), Khwab Saraye (2016), and Baandi (2018).
