Gunmen fatally shot three transgender women on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, before fleeing the area, according to police reports on Monday, highlighting the ongoing risks encountered by the community nationwide. The bodies of the victims were discovered on a roadside on Sunday, each of them shot at close range and subsequently laid to rest in a local cemetery, confirmed senior police officer Javed Abro.
The motive behind the attack was not immediately discernible, prompting authorities to launch a manhunt to apprehend the perpetrators, as stated by Abro. Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah of Sindh province denounced the killings and initiated an investigation into the incident, emphasizing the marginalized status of transgender individuals and assuring that those responsible for the assault would face justice.
A group of transgender community members staged a demonstration outside Karachi’s state-run Jinnah Hospital on Sunday, where the bodies were transported for postmortem examinations. They issued a warning of nationwide protests if the culprits were not swiftly brought to account. Transgender rights activist Bindiya Rana expressed to The Associated Press on Monday that violence against their community is a longstanding issue deeply entrenched in societal norms.
The Gender Interactive Alliance, a local advocacy organization, identified the victims as residents of Karachi who relied on begging for their livelihoods. The group highlighted a separate knife attack that critically injured another transgender woman at Karachi’s Sea View Beach just two days prior. They condemned the consecutive tragedies as targeted assaults on the community, calling for immediate arrests, the establishment of a dedicated protection unit for transgender individuals, and greater support from civil society.
Despite the recognition of transgender people as a third gender by Pakistan’s Supreme Court, granting them legal safeguards in principle, widespread discrimination persists. An anti-discrimination law passed by the Pakistani parliament in 2018 aimed to safeguard fundamental rights for transgender individuals, including legal gender recognition. However, activists stress that social prejudices and violence continue to plague the community.