Two trans-women raped in their home in Faisalabad

Two men allegedly forced entry into their flat, raped them and snatched their valuables

FAISALABAD: Two transwomen were raped and manhandled allegedly by two men at their home on Faisalabad-Jaranwala Road on Tuesday. Police said the robbers had also taken away the victims’ cell phones, money, jewellery and other valuables.

Madina Town police told The Express Tribune that Asma* and Saima were asleep at their flat in Jalvi Market, Faisalabad-Jaranwala Road, next to Kamran Hotel, when they heard the doorbell ring. Asma went to ask who it was. She opened the door and two men forced entry into their flat and one stood guard outside.



Police said that Asma told them in her complaint that Imran alias Mani Choor and another man had held them at gunpoint and beaten them up badly. She said they had cut off their hair and given them liquor to drink. “When we resisted, they beat us up some more and forced us to drink liquor…then they raped us.”

She said that Imran was the ringleader of a gang that had been involved in several incidents of rape and robbery. She also told the police about six other transwomen who had been assaulted by Imran and his accomplices.

Madina Town SHO Mazhar Irfan said that they had received the complaint. “The case has been assigned to Investigations Officer Sub Inspector Sanaullah.”

According to the SHO, police teams have conducted the raids to arrest Imran, the alleged ring leader, “but he was not at his house”.

The SHO said they would do their best to ensure justice. “The FIR will be formally registered after we verify the facts in the case, interrogate the suspects and receive a medical examination report from the victims.”



Forum for Dignity Initiative (FDI) executive director Uzma Yaqoob told journalists that the gang had been operating in Faisalabad for two years and had assaulted more than a dozen transpeople.

She said that the gang members were influential and that the police were reluctant to take appropriate action against them. Yaqoob said they would stage a protest rally if the police tried to stall the case.

Minahil, a transwoman activist studying at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, said things had been worsening for the trans-community in Faisalabad. “Incidents of violence against transwomen are on the rise and have not been taken seriously. Two people have been raped and threatened with death. We all need to speak up against gender-based violence and bring the culprits to book.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2016.