Shahzad Rasheed
Accusing a group of extortionists of torturing and depriving them of cash and valuables, the transgender community has demanded the government of Pakistan and Inspector General Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to look into the matter and provide them justice.
The demand was made by a leader of transgender community of KPK, Paro in a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club on Friday.
She said that the suspects were influential and making threats whereas the local police were just being “silent spectators” and not taking any action.
Flanked by other community members, Paro said the group of extortionists has the patronage of Police that took cash and mobile phones and other valuables from them and also gave them life threats. The ban on the functions of transgender persons and threats by extortionists, she said was meant to force them into prostitution and begging to make both ends meet.
Another transgender named Naina alleged that a fake case was registered against her in Tehkal Police Station and was tortured by police. She added, Violence and discrimination against members of the community has risen in recent years, with 85 transgender persons killed in K-P since 2015.
Paro brush aside the government claims that transgender community will not be discriminated against by educational institutions, in trade, for health services, when using public transport or buying, renting or selling property.
She further added the killers who are arrested in crimes against transgender get freed easily as the cases were not properly probed into to arrest culprits, or strong cases weren’t made against them.