KP transgender community facing threats

PESHAWAR: Transgender community in Khyber Pakhtun-khwa is facing threats from criminals and recently there emerged a case in which a policeman was reportedly involved in such an act.

Some days ago, a transvestite lodged a complaint with the Gulbahar Police Station, claiming that a police constable tried to kidnap her from her residence situated at Changarabad in Peshawar with the support of armed men.

Sameer, also known as Chocolate, stated that someone knocked at the door and forcibly entered her house when she opened the door. She stated that all the people were armed with pistols and one of them was in police uniforms, identifying himself as Rameez.

“The policeman asked me to go with him to Sarband Police Station. All the men left the house when I cried for help and fought back,” she said, adding that they warned her of dire consequences if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

She claimed that the Gulbahar station house officer (SHO) refused to book the policeman despite the fact that they have his telephone number and information of car number plate too.

On January 5, another transgender named Adnany was shot by unidentified people when she was going home after performing at a musical programme. However, Adnany was lucky to survive the attack, but suffered serious injuries.

Farzana, the head of Trans Action KP and Fata (an association of shemales), told The News that prior to attack on Adnany, they informed the Chamkani police that she was receiving serious threats to her life.

“We have also submitted a letter to the inspector general of police (IGP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for providing security to the transgender community of the province,” she said, adding that the relevant police were not taking interest in investigation and action against the culprits. She said the culprits were continuously calling and threatening Adnany, Paro Dolly, Ayesha and other members of the community. “We have shared the telephone numbers of the culprits with the police,” she added.

Qamar Nadeem, a representative of non-government organisation Blue Veins, said: “We have taken up the problems like security and other rights of the transgender community with the provincial government and national and international human rights organisations.”

He said the Front Line Defenders, an international organisation for the protection of human rights, has also expressed concern over the threats posed to transvestites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He lamented the transphobic behaviour of the police who refused registration of FIRs of the transgenders against the culprits in recent cases.

Taimur Kamal, coordinator of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Civil Society Network, said that transgender community now feared for life after the police violence and no action against the culprits.

The community has also started struggle for their rights in the province. They demand compensation from the government agencies including Provincial Disaster Management Authority and Fata Disaster Management Authority and UN agencies working for displaced persons in conflicts areas of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The other demands are provision of shelter (homes), inclusion of names to receive Zakat, Usher and other welfare schemes of the Social Welfare Department on basis of equality with other citizens, police protection, special wards in the provincial government’s teaching hospitals for treatment, issuance of CNICs, legal share in their family’s inheritance and two percent quota in government jobs in every sector.

The head of Trans Action, Farzana, said the transgenders were the most vulnerable people in the province as they were homeless society.

Despite the Supreme Court orders, she said, Nadra often denied issuance of CNICs to the transgender community. She said Nadra should be asked to comply with the apex court order and issue CNICs to them on priority basis and without difficulties.

She said the provincial government should formulate the policy in line with the Supreme Court order to ensure legal share of the transgenders in their families’ inheritance and reserve two percent quota in government jobs in all sectors.