PESHAWAR — The transgender community in KP has condemned recent police actions that forced individuals out of multiple districts. Leaders called the campaign discriminatory and unconstitutional during a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club.
Farzana Riaz, President of the Transgender Community Organization, and Vice President Mahi Gul accused police of launching targeted operations in Swabi, Nowshera, Charsadda, and other areas. They said officers evicted transgender persons and incited public hostility instead of offering protection.
Riaz stated that nearly 195 transgender individuals have been killed in recent years, yet authorities have not arrested the culprits. “The same police who failed to protect us now treat us like enemies,” she said. Despite repeated legal appeals, justice remains delayed. The Peshawar High Court (PHC) recently halted the expulsions and ordered the Inspector General of Police to submit a report by November 4.
“We don’t need ration packages—we need the right to live,” Riaz added. She criticized officials for ignoring violence and harassment while distributing aid. She also condemned raids on transgender homes and the destruction of security cameras.
Mahi Gul said elite circles celebrate transgender performers, but poorer communities label them immoral. She accused police and local leaders of organizing meetings with elders and nazims to incite mob attacks. In Swabi, she said, individuals like Naseema received 15-day eviction notices and suffered physical assault.
The leaders also criticized the previous PTI government for failing to deliver promised reforms. “Six years have passed, and we still face humiliation in male hospital wards,” Riaz said. She highlighted the absence of separate beds for transgender patients.
Mahi Gul condemned clerics who use mosque loudspeakers to incite hatred. “We respect religious leaders, but some misuse the pulpit to provoke violence,” she said.
The press conference ended with a plea to the KP government and the IG Police. Leaders urged authorities to stop harassment and ensure safety, dignity, and equal rights for the transgender community in KP. They emphasized that transgender citizens deserve protection—not punishment.
