Transpersons protest against rising violence

Demand arrest of culprits involved in killing of their fellow transgenders

RAWALPINDI:

Transgender persons staged a protest rally outside the Rawalpindi Press Club against the rising incidents of violence and killing of the community members in different parts of the country.

The protesting transgender persons demanded protection and immediate arrest of people involved in the killings of their fellow transgenders.

The protesters led by Saba Gul and Sana Chaudhry said that five transgender persons have been killed in different cities of the country in the last few days but not a single suspect has been arrested so far.

Saba Gul said that “if we are not provided with justice then we should be allowed to hand out dispense justice to the killers.”

Saba Gul said that they have confidence in Rawalpindi and Islamabad police where transgender centres have been established and “we demand that the government set up transgender centres across the country where we can be heard.”

Sana Chaudhry said that two transgender persons were killed in Mansehra on Monday. “What was their fault? We ask Prime Minister Imran Khan who will give us justice?”

Injured transgender dies

Six days ago, five transgender persons were shot and injured by a man in Mansehra. On Monday, one of them named Sameero succumbed to her injuries. He was a resident of village Battal, Mansehra.

The police had arrested Sabtin Fida, a resident of Bedadi, who opened fire at them.

City Police Station Mansehra was informed that five injured transgender persons were brought to King Abdullah Hospital in critical condition, all had gunshot injuries. The injured transgender Mohsin alias Mona while giving a statement to the police said, “I reached my room near Pima Hospital along with my other colleagues, Sabtin who was already in the room, opened fire on us with an intent to kill us.”

Read: Transgender shot dead over 'local dispute' in Mardan

Mohsin along with other four colleagues received many shots in the body and sustained injuries. The other injured transgender persons identified as Sameer Iftikhar, a resident of Chakia Road Mansehra, Bilal alias Kaif, a resident of Lahore, Bilal alias Natasha, a resident of Kahwali Ziarat, Mansehra and Azeem Nazir, a resident of Chakia Road, Mansehra.

A case has been registered against the accused under the provisions of attempted murder on the complaint of Mohsin alias Mona, a resident of Sheikh Albandi, Abbottabad.

District Police Officer (DPO) Mansehra while taking notice of the incident ordered City Police Station to immediately arrest the accused.

The suspect was arrested within two and a half hours after the shooting while police also recovered the pistol used in the firing.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, March 22^nd, 2022.