Three arrested over transwoman’s murder

Victim was found dead in Sector E-11 apartment

ISLAMABAD:

As many as three people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder of a person who was a transgender and used to make a living as a dancer.

Police had been called to a Sector E-11 apartment on Monday where they found the body of the 30-year-old Syed Umar lying in a pool of blood. Umar professionally identified himself as ‘Benish’.

Officials said that the victim hailed from Jhang city and lived near Abdul Rehman Chowk. He is survived by a two-and-half-year-old son named Ali Ibrahim while his wife is nearly three-months pregnant.

His family said that Umar came to Islamabad in search of a job. When he failed to find any gainful employment, he opted to become a transgender dancer who performed at private parties and functions.

Police added Umar was living along with his roommate, Saleem, in an apartment in Nawaz Plaza in Sector E-11.

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DSP Khalid Awan said that that they have arrested the victim’s roommate, the plaza’s owner Muhammad Nawaz, and Tahir, who runs a vegetable stall opposite the apartment, into custody.

Further, he said that they have collected evidence from the site while a probe into the murder was underway.

Transwoman identity

Meanwhile, the transgender reporting centre has helped convince the family of a transwoman to let her live with her adopted identity.

Officials at the Transgender Reporting Centre said that a person who is transgender had approached them after running away from her family.

In her complaint, she maintained that her family had turned against her after she came out to them as a transwoman.

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At this, Victim Support Officer (VSO) Reem Sharif, who is also a transgender person, contacted the victim’s family and called them to the Transgender Reporting Centre.

The officer told the family about the rights of people who are transgender under the Transgender Act 2018.

After getting awareness, the victim’s family was convinced and accepted the new identity of the complainant and assured VSO that they will neither object to her gender identity choice nor will they beat her.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2020.