Swat's transgender community 'attacks' police station after ‘maltreatment’

Protesters denounce release of accused persons who had allegedly attacked members of the marginalised group

SWAT: Transgender persons on Saturday attacked a police station in Swat's Mingora over the release of two suspects who allegedly attacked members of the marginalised community.

Footage of transgender persons hurling bricks and stones at the premises of the Mingora Police Station went viral on social media.

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Slogan-chanting protesters also blocked the road leading to the police station calling for action to be taken against the accused persons.

One of the protesters told The Express Tribune that they had come to find out about progress made in the case.

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She, however, added that upon entering the police station they were beaten and thrown out of the premises.

"We are human beings and must be treated as equal citizens," one of the protesters was quoted as saying.

While Nadia Khan, president of the Swat transgender association, said that Naimat Ali, a transgender person, had filed a complaint against Sajad Ali and Hussain Ali for allegedly opening fire on her residence.

Nadia said the two suspects were then released by police.

The president of the Swat transgender association added that 24 members of the community had been arrested by police so far.

"Three days back a complaint was lodged against two men, who were then taken into custody and produced in court after which they were granted bail,"SHO Mingora Anwar Khan said.

Anwar added that they did not come here to protest and instead stoned the compound.

He quashed claims that police attacked or humiliated the transgender persons.