Transgenders protest robbery

FAISALABAD:

Scores of transgenders on Thursday protested a robbery involving their leader near Saddar police station on Monday.

Some 70 transgenders gathered at Zila Council Chowk near the district courts and staged a sit-in in front of the CPO’s office.

Talking to newsmen, Shabnam Lilli, one of the protesters, said their leader Madam Riaz, a resident of Khushhal Town, had been approached by Tauqeer Gujjar to buy her car for Rs1.5 million.

Lilli said he had called her over to finalise the transaction on June 8. “He told her that he had arranged the money and wanted to take possession of the car on paying her.”

When Riaz went to collect the payment and hand over the car, Tauqeer and some other men boarded the vehicle, saying they wanted to take it for a test drive.

Lilli said the men then drove the car to Sinjwal where they beat up Riaz and threw her out.

They also took away Rs150,000 and her gold jewellery.

Lilli said a complaint had been moved against the suspects but police had not take action.

The protesters blocked University Road for traffic and staged a sit-in there.

They also burnt old tyres and chanted slogans urging the DCO. CPO Afzaal Kausar met the protesters representatives and assured them that action would be taken against the suspects. He said the stolen goods would also be recovered. The protesters dispersed on his assurance.

Talking to The Express Tribune, a spokesman of the CPO’s office said Saddar DSP Saleem Warraich and SHO Malik Jahangir had been directed to take action against the suspects and arrest them within 48 hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 12^th, 2015.