Gunmen fatally shot three transgender women on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, and fled the scene, as confirmed by police on Monday. The bodies of the victims were discovered on a roadside the previous day, each having suffered close-range gunshot wounds. Senior police official Javed Abro mentioned that the victims were subsequently laid to rest in a local cemetery. The motive behind the killings was not immediately evident, prompting an active pursuit to apprehend the perpetrators.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of Sindh province denounced the tragic incident and initiated an investigation into the matter. He acknowledged the marginalized status of transgender individuals in society and assured that those responsible for the attack would face legal consequences. Meanwhile, members of the transgender community staged a protest outside Jinnah Hospital in Karachi, where the bodies were taken for autopsy. They emphasized the urgency of bringing the culprits to justice to avoid nationwide protests.
Bindiya Rana, a transgender rights activist, highlighted the long-standing violence against the community, describing it as a deeply rooted issue in society. Rana warned that if the police failed to identify the assailants, a nationwide protest would be organized. The Gender Interactive Alliance, a local advocacy group, identified the victims as residents of Karachi who relied on begging for livelihood. The alliance drew attention to a recent knife attack that critically injured another transgender woman at Sea View Beach in Karachi, indicating a pattern of targeted violence against the community.
Despite legal recognition by Pakistan’s Supreme Court as a third gender and the passage of legislation in 2018 to protect transgender rights, discrimination and violence against transgender individuals persist. The Gender Interactive Alliance called for immediate arrests, the establishment of a dedicated protection unit, and increased support from civil society to combat the ongoing threats faced by transgender people in the country.
