Nisha Rao

Rao was born in a middle-class family from Lahore, in the Punjab region, and had seven siblings. During her early years, she was enrolled at a private English medium school in Lahore. At age 14, Nisha realized she was different.{{Cite web|title=They tried degrading her until they couldn't help respecting her|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/235470-They-tried-degrading-her-until-they-couldnt-help-respecting-her|access-date=2020-11-17|website=www.thenews.com.pk|language=en}}{{Cite web|website=RadioPakistan|date=|title=interview of Nisha Rao|url=http://www.radio.gov.pk/programme/28-06-2018/interview-of-nisha-rao|access-date=}} She was never beaten by her parents for her feminine habits but she chose to leave her house after completing matric.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=From streets to courts, Pakistan's first transgender lawyer Nisha Rao|url=https://mmnews.tv/from-streets-to-courts-pakistans-first-transgender-lawyer-nisha-rao/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=MM News TV|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Bringing the unheard voices and unwritten stories to the fore |url=https://www.pk.undp.org/content/pakistan/en/home/blog/2019/bringing-the-unheard-voices-and-unwritten-stories-to-the-fore-.html|access-date=2020-11-26|website=UNDP|language=en}} She moved to Karachi for a fresh start.{{Cite web|title=Nisha Rao: Meet Pakistan's first transgender lawyer|url=https://www.geo.tv/mustwatch/315656-nisha-rao-meet-pakistans-first-transgender-lawyer|access-date=2020-11-16|website=www.geo.tv|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-02-24|title=He came to Karachi to find himself. Now, she wants to be a judge|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/1917531/came-karachi-find-now-wants-judge|access-date=2020-11-17|website=The Express Tribune|language=en}}

In Karachi, she began living with a transgender community in the Hijrat colony.{{Cite web|date=2020-11-01|title=Nisha Rao – Pakistan First Talented Hardworking Transgender|url=https://youngstars.pk/2020/11/1458/nisha-rao-pakistan-first-talented-hardworking-transgender/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Young Stars of Pakistan |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|title=transgender lawyer Nisha Rao Archives|url=https://pakaffairs.pk/tag/transgender-lawyer-nisha-rao/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Pakaffairs.pk|date=23 October 2020 |language=en-US}} Rao begged on the streets for a time to fund her expenditures.{{Cite web|last=Zehra|first=Mehak|title=Pakistan's First Transgender Lawyer Is Fighting Against All Odds|website=Brandsynario|date=23 October 2020 |url=https://www.brandsynario.com/pakistans-first-transgender-lawyer-is-fighting-against-all-odds/|access-date=2020-11-26|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Meet : Nisha Rao Pakistan's first transgender lawyer {{!}} Maaya Kahani|url=https://headtopics.com/pk/77101101116325816598-16732608|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Head Topics|date=8 November 2020|language=ur|archive-date=2021-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829161731/https://headtopics.com/pk/77101101116325816598-16732608|url-status=dead}} Throughout this time Rao told her family she was being financed independently for school in Karachi but was begging in the streets. She would beg from 8am to 3pm and take law classes from 4 to 9 pm.{{Cite web|last=Zehra|first=Sana|date=2020-10-23|title=Nisha Rao becomes the first transgender lawyer of Pakistan|url=https://www.newsburry.com/nisha-rao-becomes-the-first-transgender-lawyer-of-pakistan/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Newsburry|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101072049/https://www.newsburry.com/nisha-rao-becomes-the-first-transgender-lawyer-of-pakistan/|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-06|title=Nisha Rao|url=https://www.pakpedia.pk/nisha-rao/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Pakpedia {{!}} Pakistan's Biggest Online Encyclopedia|language=en-US}}{{better source needed|date=July 2022}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-20|title=A candid conversation with Nisha Rao|url=https://voicepk.net/2020/11/20/a-candid-conversation-with-nisha-rao/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Voicepk.net|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-24|title=Nisha Rao: First Transgender Lawyer In Pakistan|url=https://growpakistani.pk/2020/10/24/nisha-rao-first-transgender-lawyer-in-pakistan/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=GrowPakistani|language=en-US}} She earned her bachelor's degree at Karachi University.

Rao is one of the few transgender people in Pakistan who chose to pursue higher education. After completing college, she enrolled in a BA program at Karachi University to specialize in International Relations.{{Cite web|title='From street begging to court': Meet Nisha Rao, Pakistan's first transgender lawyer|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/audio/from-street-begging-to-court-meet-nisha-rao-pakistan-s-first-transgender-lawyer|access-date=2020-11-26|website=SBS Your Language|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Nisha's story |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/11/21/nishas-story/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.pakistantoday.com.pk}} During this time, she befriended an advocate named 'Mudassir Iqbal', who, according to Rao, supported her in pursuing higher education.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Interview with Nisha Rao : Pakistan's First Transgender Lawyer|url=https://rava.pk/editors-choice/interview-with-nisha-rao-pakistans-first-transgender-lawyer|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Rava|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126182447/https://rava.pk/editors-choice/interview-with-nisha-rao-pakistans-first-transgender-lawyer|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-26|title=Here's Inspiring Story of Pakistan's 1st Transgender Lawyer Nisha Rao|url=https://lahorified874.medium.com/heres-inspiring-story-of-pakistan-s-1st-transgender-lawyer-nisha-rao-244ad49ac63c|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Medium|language=en}} Nisha then decided to pursue higher studies and was admitted to Sindh Muslim Law College in 2015.{{Cite web|title=Nisha Rao|url=https://www.samaa.tv/urdu/tag/nisha-rao/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=www.samaa.tv}} The college's former principal, Mustafa Ali Mahesar, supported Nisha in her studies and also gave her private coaching in International Law. Rao graduated in 2018.{{Cite web|first=Zara|last=Khan|date=2020-10-23|title=Nisha Rao becomes the first transgender lawyer of Pakistan|url=https://pk.mashable.com/social-good/5664/nisha-rao-becomes-the-first-transgender-lawyer-of-pakistan|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Mashable Pakistan|language=en-pk|archive-date=2020-11-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112054537/https://pk.mashable.com/social-good/5664/nisha-rao-becomes-the-first-transgender-lawyer-of-pakistan|url-status=dead}}

Rao began her law career by participating in various advocacy events.{{Cite web|date=|title=LAS Newsletter|url=https://www.las.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LAO-LAS-Newsletter-8.pdf|access-date=|website=|archive-date=2021-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210829161727/https://www.las.org.pk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LAO-LAS-Newsletter-8.pdf|url-status=dead}} She later associated herself with various Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as a volunteer and a legal adviser.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Nisha Rao: Pakistan's First Transgender Lawyer Now Fights For Her Community|url=https://bolojawan.com/nisha-rao-pakistans-first-transgender-lawyer-now-fights-for-her-community/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Bolojawan.com|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Nisha Rao Archives|url=https://inflics.com/tag/nisha-rao/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Inflics|date=29 October 2020 |language=en-US}} She joined the Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), which works for the rights of the transgender community.{{Cite web|title=Quiz of the Day {{!}} Women in Elections|url=https://pakvoter.org/wie/quiz/who-is-known-as-the-first-transgender-lawyer-in-pakistan/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=WIE|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2018-10-03|title=Targeted for 'begging', transgender community begs to be left alone|url=https://leappakistan.com/targeted-for-begging-transgender-community-begs-to-be-left-alone/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=LEAP Pakistan|language=en-US}} She moved to Islamabad after she was appointed as treasurer, but she soon had to leave her job due to financial hurdles.

Nisha also tutored many children in her area to supplement her income.{{Cite web|date=2017-12-04|title=Society's support for women emancipation must, says speakers|url=https://nation.com.pk/04-Dec-2017/society-s-support-for-women-emancipation-must-says-speakers|access-date=2020-11-26|website=The Nation|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-07-17|title=Pakistan's transgender persons struggle with pandemic and poverty|url=https://international.la-croix.com/news/world/pakistans-transgender-persons-struggle-with-pandemic-and-poverty/12769|access-date=2020-11-26|website=international.la-croix.com|language=en}}

As a lawyer, Nisha has dealt with over 50 cases regarding the transgender community.{{Cite web|date=24 October 2020|title=1st transgender lawyer Nisha Rao|url=https://www.lahorified.com/heres-inspiring-story-of-pakistans-1st-transgender-lawyer-nisha-rao/|access-date=|website=|archive-date=14 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914190317/https://www.lahorified.com/heres-inspiring-story-of-pakistans-1st-transgender-lawyer-nisha-rao/|url-status=dead}}

Nisha plans to help the transgender community through her NGO.{{Cite web|date=2018-10-30|title=In the subcontinent, the 'third gender' struggles to exist|url=https://ittehad.net/2018/10/30/transgender-community/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919191340/https://ittehad.net/2018/10/30/transgender-community/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=September 19, 2020|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Ittehad اتحاد गठबंधन|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-07|title=Meet Nisha Rao {{!}} Pakistan's First-Ever Transgender Lawyer|url=https://viralbreak.in/2020/11/07/meet-nisha-rao-pakistans-first-ever-transgender-lawyer/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=ViralBreak|language=en-US}}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She wants to set up a helpline where transgender people can be guided by other community members. She also has plans to build a transgender old age home in the near future.{{Cite web|last=Batool|first=Zehra|date=2020-10-21|title=Meet Nisha Rao - Pakistan's First-Ever Transgender Lawyer Who Fights Against All Odds|url=https://www.parhlo.com/nisha-rao-pakistans-first-transgender-lawyer/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=Parhlo|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2020-10-24|title=Meet Pakistan's First Trans-woman Lawyer!|url=https://themerakimagazine.com/meet-pakistans-first-trans-woman-lawyer/|access-date=2020-11-17|website=The Meraki|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126062240/https://themerakimagazine.com/meet-pakistans-first-trans-woman-lawyer/|url-status=dead}}

• [http://www.radio.gov.pk/programme/28-06-2018/interview-of-nisha-rao Nisha Rao interview]
• [https://pknama.com/2020/10/21/nisha-rao-life-story/ Nisha Rao life story] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026043700/https://pknama.com/2020/10/21/nisha-rao-life-story/ |date=2021-10-26 }}

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Category:Living people

Category:Pakistani women activists

Category:Pakistani lawyers

Category:Transgender rights activists

Category:Pakistani LGBTQ rights activists

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Pakistani LGBTQ lawyers

Category:Pakistani transgender women

Category:Women civil rights activists