Punjab

Eunuch and cross dresser’s bodies found

Bodies of victims found burnt; attacks occurred within a day of each other.

Safdar Ali November 08, 2010

SHEIKHUPURA: Unidentified men murdered a eunuch and set his body on fire near the Sheikhupura police precincts on Sunday, a day after a similar incident occurred near Seema Canal.

According to police officials, the incident took place on Lahore Road between Ayesha Stop and Fauzia Chowk.

The eunuch in question could not be identified as his body was burned beyond recognition. On Saturday, another boy who reportedly dressed up as a eunuch was burnt near the Seema Canal. “We cannot confirm that the earlier case was a eunuch, he was most likely a cross dresser. We found bits of jewellery and clothing at the crime scene which indicate that the boy had dressed up as a woman. He was most likely a beggar,” Sheikhupura superintendent police (SP) Syed Amin Bukhari told reporters. Bukhari added that the area in which both bodies were found was usually frequented by eunuchs and cross dressers who beg in the streets.

“This is the second brutal murder of its kind within a day. Both of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, their nails were pulled out and their eyes were removed,” Bukhari told reporters, adding that the autopsy report could not confirm the identity of either of the victims and they were both laid to rest near the police station.

“We could not identify either of them. They were burnt beyond recognition and before that they had been brutally tortured,” Bukhari said, adding that the police was investigating any suspicious activity in the area.

“We have put people on the look out in the area and we have already released pictures of the bodies to caution people about what has happened,” constable Rehman said, adding that he hoped someone would come forward with evidence or an indication into who could have been behind the murders. “So far we have no leads on the case and are looking for anything to go on,” he said.

Police officials said that these serial murders had caused a lot of hysteria in the district as both bodies had been tortured. “So far we don’t have any identification of the victims or the perpetrators and naturally people are worried,” Bukhari said, adding that Sheikhupura was normally a safe district and such a brutal crime was rare.

SP Bukhari has formed two investigation teams to look into the murder. “There is one team to investigate each murder. These teams will follow any leads that crop up regarding the victims,” he said, adding that the police was determined to catch the murderers as soon as possible.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2010.

COMMENTS (14)

susan | 13 years ago | Reply Wow! Individuals should educate themselves about transgender people. For those who try to rationalize that it is "unnatural" and therefore "punishable", give your head a shake. I don't care what religion you belong to; torture of anyone for any reason is unacceptable for human behaviour. The universe is about balance; the perpetrators will get theirs in the end. Pakistan is not the problem; uneducated racist, homophobic and sexist individuals are the problem. People are people...valuable beings on the planet at this time; each and everyone one of them as valuable as the next. Beggars exist in every country of the world; there are reasons that beggars are beggars...deal with the reasons and you will eliminate the need for beggars to beg. It is not "rocket science".

Anthony | 14 years ago | Reply Nasha, thanks for the information. I will definitely look up the article. And Tony, yes, Pakistan would be missed...at least most of the people who live there. I know some very nice, decent people who condemn these actions vehemently. And one doesn't throw the baby out with the bath water. It's not the Country that is the problem, only some very misguided radicals who are hate mongers...they are so insecure in themselves that they have to take their vitriolic hate out on others who can't defend themselves. I suppose this makes them feel more important somehow. That's pretty sad itself. Or perhaps they identify with them so they have to kill what they hate in themselves....

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Nasha | 14 years ago | Reply @Anthony You are SO right! a whole lot of these people are those that were born inter-sexed, these people are either left on the streets or else handed over to the Hijra/Khusra community who then take these children as they're own. it has only been a year since the Supreme Court of Pakistan realized they're issues and issued ID's for the community, but I dunno if it helps them or marginalizes them even further. I would recommend reading Express Tribunes Article "Dragging the Line" (http://tribune.com.pk/story/20296/dragging-the-line/) to every one. The rest of the people as Tony assumes, are trans-gendered and suffer from Gender Identity Disorder. and let me just say that the highest authorities on Islam, the Al-Azhar Masjid of Sunni and Imam Khomieni of Shia'ism have both issued Fatwas recognizing Gender Identity Disorder.

Tony | 14 years ago | Reply Would anybody miss Pakistan?

Anthony | 14 years ago | Reply It's very hard to read comments like the one's posted by Nina and Farah. The misery they bring to the roads/streets? Did either of you stop to think about the misery that they live in 24/7? When society forces them into the streets to beg for food, shelter, clothing....many things that you probably take for granted, where else can they turn. If I may clarify, and I do not know if this applies to either of the victims but it certainly may, these two people could be transgender. We know and there is scientific proof, that there are people who are born who may 1] be born with both 'sexes' [Hermaphrodites], or some combination 2]some people are born with the body of for ex. a male but have the brain of a female, the opposite also applies, born with female body yet has male brain 3] cross-dressers who prefer to wear clothing of the opposite gender. In my experience as an activist for the trans community in the US and abroad for at least 20 years I can tell you that most cross-dressers do so in a more private setting and have regular jobs and "normally" do not cross-dress so that they may be driven to the streets in order to beg. It usually [and I keep stressing 'normally' or 'usually' because there are no absolutes], is more of a preference or choice. However with the first two examples I gave it is not a choice! Being an activist I speak from personal experience and expertise concerning people who are transgender. Most places in Pakistan, in fact I do not know of any, have any treatments available for the transgender person. Some, not all, may take hormones that they can buy on the streets but that is problematic in that they are not always exactly what they purport to be. The transgender person is forced out of their homes by families who disown them, if they are found out in the workplace, [if I have to explain how this happens it can not be in this forum, but Farah and Nina and anyone else who cares to understand rather than criticize out of ignorance look up the terms I am using on reputable websites and there are many], they most often and I will put usually here, lose their jobs. Without access to employment or protection under the law for transgender and/or transexual people they will not be able to find gainful employment so they are force to beg or go into prostitution. It is a sad commentary that people can hate others that are different from what they believe the "norm" to be, enough to torture, maim and kill so brutally as these two were killed. They are the misery in the streets, the ones who hate and murder not the victims of their crimes. You call them 'eunuchs' and the police also even though burned beyond recognition! Do you or the police know the definition of eunuchs? How could they possibly know if either of these souls had been castrated [or even when desperate enough to live in the gender they were born may be forced to castrate themselves]? There is not enough room nor is this the forum to try and educate anyone on transgender/transexual people and I am sorry for that. I just hope that Farah and Nina will try and educate themselves so that the obvious distaste they spew may be turned into understanding. Allah does count every soul as sacred and there is no "except for" what you may think isn't worthy of life. I sincerely hope and pray that none of your children will declare that they are transgender to you.....what would you do? Tell your own children what misfits and miseries they are to you? Probably...far too many families do just that to their children, force them to dress as a gender they know they are not and eventually when old enough to recognize that the child isn't n some phase but truly are the gender they tell their parents they are...throw them into the streets like dogs to fend for themselves however they might, ergo beggars on the streets of not only Karachi, but so many cities, countries that it is truly inhuman. But alas, I doubt you will take the time to try and understand what the terms i have introduced really mean. I can only hope and pray that you will and that these heinous slaughters stop!

Nasha | 14 years ago | Reply @Farah and Nina: They are not bringing any misery to the streets! they just beggars. such people have been around for hundreds of years in the sub-continent and its only been after the British rule that they ostracized and had to resort to begging as the only means to survive. such people live normal lives in the west without being marginalized and not "troubling" anyone. but it is our society and the horrible culture that keeps people (humaray baap dada jo kartay thay, to hum bhi karain gay) backward. what vice and immorality are they spreading? do they murder or rape or steel from anyone? its only ever others who ever rape and kill them, or use them to kill they're sexual frustrations. And "How many of you would like your son to grow up and dress like a woman, because he has been influenced by what he sees in the streets?" Do you really believe your children are so absolutely dumb that they'd get "influenced" by a random thing they see on the street? If you believe that then you should not have any internet television access to your kids cause if their that stupid, they might get influence by any one of the crazy things they see on em.

Humanity | 14 years ago | Reply @Farah Kaleem "its probably a psychosocial reaction. Secondly, if you live in Karachi, you would know the kind of misery these eunuchs and cross-dressers are bringing on to the roads!!" What misery are these eunuchs and cross dressers bring on to the roads that they deserve to have their nails pulled, their eyes gorged, and then burnt alive beyond recognition. Gimme a break, will you! What is psychosocial reaction, if I may ask? The perpetrators of such crimes are de-humanized, hopeless people who take out their anger and frustration at any thing. Today it is the cross dressers tomorrow these monsters will develop a dislike for you and me, just because we touch a wrong nerve. Very sad and worrisome sate of affairs. God, divine intervention is needed urgently, please!

nina | 14 years ago | Reply For a Muslim, every human life is sacred and it should be respected, whether rich or poor. However now that a eunuch and a cross dresser have been murdered, people are raising their voices. Can I ask all of you, where are these voices when these cross dressers and enuchs harass people at the major city chowks? Where are these voices when these eunuchs spread vice and immorality in society which affects our young vulnerable youth? How many of you would like your son to grow up and dress like a woman, because he has been influenced by what he sees in the streets? I think none of you would. This absolutely has nothing to do with democracy. It is the result of the deteriorating social fabric of Pakistan. Our iman is so weak, so we decide to blame the govt, democracy, judiciary, bla bla bla. We should look within ourselves. May Allah give all of us hidayat and guide us onto the right path.

shy | 14 years ago | Reply In human and careless society.

Raheem Khan | 14 years ago | Reply It's extremely sad & pathetic! What kind of society are we living in? No law & no justice.

Dr Huma | 14 years ago | Reply I agree with Farah Kaleem. Every human life is to be respected, if we were a civil society, i would have added, all life should be respected. But as we are quite primitive, so we need to start with the respect for human life!

Farah Kaleem | 14 years ago | Reply I would disagree with Dr Syed... first of all this has nothing to do with democracy! Its not political issue... its probably a psychosocial reaction! Secondly, if you live in Karachi, you would know the kind of misery these eunuchs and cross-dressers are bringing on to the roads!

Farooq | 14 years ago | Reply Seems that some self styled "reformer" wants to put an end on these cross dressers thinking they are "immoral" in our land of pure. I dont want to get into a discussion of morality, but I really want to ask those "reformers" to see what problems these poor ones face, how can you bring them into the mainstream? So they also get involve in normal professions and also educate society to accept them and treat them like any ordinary folk of our country.

Dr. Syed | 14 years ago | Reply How inhuman our society have become. I want to ask our (so-called)leaders as to where the word ''democracy'' has gone? Is this what our goal & motto was when our ancestors fought for Pakistan & the idea of democracy? It is a shame for all of us that we don't even spare a cross dresser.

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