Bullet-riddled bodies of three transgender persons found in Karachi’s Memon Goth

The bodies of three transgender persons bearing gunshot wounds were found on Sunday in bushes near Nagori Cooperative Housing Society, off the M-9 Motorway, within the jurisdiction of Memon Goth police station, officials said.

Soon after receiving information about the incident, police, Rangers personnel and rescue services arrived at the scene. The area was cordoned off and a crime scene unit was called in to collect evidence.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir, Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, who also visited the site, told reporters that all three victims had been shot once — two of them in the chest and one in the head. He said no documents or mobile phones were recovered from the deceased that could help identify them.

Police recovered two 9mm pistol shells, a torch, a tissue roll and other items from the crime scene, the SSP revealed. Fingerprints of the victims have been taken for identification purposes, and local residents are being questioned to help ascertain their identities.

SSP Pirzada added that there were no CCTV cameras directly covering the spot, but nearby cameras were being checked for clues.

Initial observations suggest the victims were shot at the same location where their bodies were found because police recovered two shells from the spot. The incident also appears to have taken place only a few hours before discovery, but the MLO report will provide the final findings.

Police said two bodies were found together while the third lay a few feet away, possibly indicating that the person tried to escape before being shot.

The SSP said there were indications that the transgender persons regularly visited the area, as some used items at the site suggested. The recovered bullet casings will be cross-matched to determine whether a single weapon or multiple weapons were used.

The bodies were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for postmortem examinations, while police launched a probe into the killings.

The deceased were identified as 20-year-old Alex Riyasat alias Aini, son of Riyasat Masih, originally from Sheikhupura; 28-year-old Muhammad Jeel alias Sameera, son of Muhammad Murad, from Khairpur; and an individual known by the alias Asma, whose full identity remains unverified.

Transgender rights group reacts

The Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA) said in a statement that the three victims — Asma, Sameera and Aini — lived in areas around Bilawal Goth and Safora Town. It said they earned their livelihood through begging and never returned after leaving home to collect alms.

“This is not just about the murder of a few individuals, it is an attempt to intimidate and silence the entire community,” the statement said. The GIA alleged that the transgender community is being systematically targeted and demanded a transparent investigation, swift arrests and the creation of a special protection unit.

Community protests

In response, the transgender community staged a protest outside Jinnah Hospital. The demonstration was led by rights leader Bindiya Rana, who strongly condemned the killings and announced a press conference and province-wide protests.

“These events have created immense fear among the community,” she said. “Should we stop leaving our homes altogether?”

CM orders inquiry

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and directed the Inspector General of Police to immediately arrest the perpetrators.

“The killers of transgenders should be arrested at all costs,” he said, calling the victims “an oppressed section of society.” Shah said the state would not tolerate the killing of any oppressed or innocent citizen.