Attempt to set transgender person’s house ablaze failed

Police arrested the suspect who was threatening her housemate

PESHAWAR: The Kotwali police arrested Osman, a resident of Momin Town, for trying to set ablaze the house of  Arzo, a person who is transgender.

The incident took place in Ghanta Ghar in the city on Sunday night.

According to the police, Osman, a generator mechanic, was friends with Gurya. She used to bear the expenses of his household, but due to some issues Gurya stopped providing financial help to Osman and moved to live with Arzo in Ghanta Ghar.



“After Gurya shifted, Osman started threatening her with dire consequences and [on Sunday] night, he tried to set Arzo’s house on fire,” a police official told The Express Tribune. “The situation was controlled by locals.”

He added an FIR was registered in the case. Police raided Osman’s house and arrested him.

While talking to The Express Tribune, human rights activist Taimur Kamal, who is associated with Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, hit out at the police for its inaction.



“Kotwali police was informed soon after the incident, but they refused to register an FIR in the case. We then approached the IGP’s Complaint Cell and SSP Operations, who directed the SHO to register an FIR in the case. It was after this pressure that the suspect was finally arrested,” he said. “Now, father of the accused is also threatening Arzo with dire consequences [and is able to do so] without inviting any attention from the quarters concerned.”

Violence against people who are transgender has been on the rise in the city and across K-P. This year alone, 10 people who are transgender have been killed across the province, including one in Paharipura, Peshawar.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 5^th, 2016.