Confronting hatred

We as a nation need to realize how little protection is afforded to the most vulnerable among us. Although hatred and lack of tolerance for people have affected society as a whole, its worst impacts have been borne by the country’s marginalized communities, especially the transgender community. The problem is not just one of law enforcement and a lack of official action. It is our duty as citizens to create a society where all feel welcome and safe. The reason attacks on transgender persons are so common is that the perpetrators feel they have immunity for their actions. This should not be allowed to stand and we cannot just rely on the government to be the agent of change. Last week, activists from the Gender Interactive Alliance, Sindh Moorat March, and Aurat March held a press conference in Karachi to raise the pressing issue of violence against trans women, highlighting recent harassment and abuse cases that occurred in the city’s Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Nazimabad neighbourhoods.

The trans community has been facing a renewed campaign of hatred especially post-2022. With conservative political parties rallying against a law passed to protect the transgender community, at least 12 trans women were killed across the country that year. The streak of violence did not end in 2023, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh becoming the least safe places; transgender persons continue to receive death threats to date, some losing their lives. All of this has been met by a state that is not willing to take action against the widespread hate speech against the transgender community. While the government passes laws time after time for the community’s protection, it has failed to monitor content that is viral on social media and which openly incites violence against the community. A group of self-appointed saviours of the country’s ‘morality’ has launched digital campaigns to convince people to see the transgender community as a threat. This attack on their dignity led to several harassment cases where a trans leader, Shahzadi Rai, had to finally post a video of her harasser on X (formerly Twitter) to get the attention of law-enforcement agencies. But these sporadic actions have not provided any protection to the community. And it is perhaps the fear of prosecution that many transgender people are now hiding their identity -- a step that may push them away from availing themselves of social benefits like the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP).Pakistan has always had a sizable number of transgender people. Groups that are vehemently against the trans community are not against the more unprivileged members of the community who have to rely on the 'goodness' and 'kindness' of the privileged to access their rights. They are threatened by the strong voices within the community who have decided to stop relying on others to decide what is right for them. Pakistani society needs an overhaul. Those who are responsible for spreading hate against marginalized communities must be brought to justice. No one should be allowed to dehumanize a group of people. Pakistan has a rich history of tolerance and inclusivity. It should not let regressive elements, who can easily leave the country at the drop of a hat and provide a liberal, safe environment for their children to grow in, disturb the fabric of Pakistani society.