Unknown suspects booked in transgender persons’ killing case

Police on Monday registered a murder case following a incident in Memon Goth’s Nagori Society near the Super Highway, where three individuals — two confirmed transgender persons and one later identified as a married man — were found shot dead.

The case (FIR No. 290/25) was registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code at Memon Goth police station on the complaint of transgender community leader Zafar, son of Sultan. According to the FIR, the victims were living in separate rooms within the same locality and were discovered dead after their companions received WhatsApp messages alerting them to the incident.

The deceased were initially believed to be three transgender individuals. They were identified as 20-year-old Alex Riyasat, son of Riyasat Masih; 28-year-old Jeel, son of Murad; and Asma. However, investigators later found that one of the victims, Jeal Ujjan, was not a transgender person but a married man and father of three. He held a Master’s degree and hailed from Bozdar Wada, Khairpur.

The other two victims, Alex and Asma, were confirmed to be transgender persons. They were residents of Safora and Bilal Goth, respectively. The police said the victims were shot at close range, and two 9mm bullet casings were recovered from the crime scene.

According to investigators, the victims might have been standing by the roadside seeking a ride when unknown assailants opened fire and fled. The police handed over the bodies to the families after completing legal formalities. Describing the case as high-profile, the police had formed a special investigation team to apprehend the culprits. The team was relying on forensic and circumstantial evidence to trace the attackers.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah took notice of the killings and directed the police to ensure the immediate arrest of those responsible. SHO Memon Goth Javed Abro stated that police were exploring all possible angles in the investigation and continuing their search for additional evidence at the deserted crime scene.