Two transgender women were tragically killed in Mardan, Pakistan, in a disturbing act of violence that highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the transgender community in the country. The incident, which occurred on Sunday night, involved two armed men who attacked the victims in their home before fleeing the scene.
Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the murders, as violence against transgender individuals remains a prevalent issue in conservative northwest Pakistan. Transgender people in the region often face harassment, abuse, and attacks, with some becoming victims of so-called honor killings carried out by relatives in response to perceived sexual transgressions.
According to Farzana Jan, President of the Trans Action rights group in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, this recent incident adds to a concerning trend of violence targeting transgender individuals. Jan highlighted that nine other trans people have been killed in gun attacks in the province since the beginning of the year, with perpetrators often evading justice due to familial pardons or lack of serious prosecution.
In response to the killings, the transgender community has issued a three-day ultimatum to law enforcement to apprehend the perpetrators. Failure to do so may result in public protests and rallies to demand justice for the victims and accountability for the attackers.
While precise figures on the transgender population in Pakistan are not available, Jan estimated that approximately 75,000 transgender individuals reside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The city of Mardan, where the recent tragedy took place, is located east of Peshawar and serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the transgender community in the region.
