Attack on transgender sparks outrage

Activists say police were told of threats to community but did nothing

MANSEHRA: A transgender person was critically injured when three attackers opened fire at her in the urban limits of Mansehra on Sunday night. The attempted murder sparked unrest among the transgender community which took to the streets on Monday and slammed the police for not providing security.



According to City police, Kashi alias Chand, was at home when three armed people, one of whom was identified as Kala Khan, barged into her house and started harassing her. When the situation got out of hands, the armed men opened fire at Chand with pistols. The assailants managed to escape from the scene and the injured transgender person was rushed to King Abdullah Teaching Hospital. She was later referred to Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad in critical condition.



Reacting to attempted murder, the trangender association of the area held a protest and marched from Mansehra Press Club to City police station. Led by the association president, Maria Khan, and general secretary, Nadra Khan, they chanted slogans against the police. Speaking to the media, Maria Khan said her community had informed the police of threats to their lives after the murder of transgender person Alesha. She claimed the police displayed its typical lackadaisical attitude which led to the murder attempt on Chand. The activist stated 24 hours had passed and the police had yet to arrest the murderers.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2016.