PESHAWAR: The police on Monday claimed to have arrested the main accused in the last week murder of transgender person Gul Panra in Palosi area here.

Gunmen had killed Panra and injured transgender person Chahat early on Sept 9 as the two was returning from a wedding function.

Capital city police officer Mohammad Ali Gandapur told a news conference at the Malik Saad Shaheed police lines that a team led by SP (Cantonment Circle) Hassan Jehangir Wattoo investigated the matter.

He said the probe team traced killers and arrested the main accused, Rafiullah.

Mr Gandapur said more people were being probed on pointation of the arrested accused.

He said the police teams had been formed to arrest other accused. He, however, did not elaborate on the motive behind the murder.

The CCPO said the transgender persons were a vulnerable segment of population and the police were taking steps for their protection.

He said the Peshawar police had decided to appoint the SP (City Circle) and ASP (Gulbahar) as focal persons on issues involving transgender.

Mr Gandapur said both officers would meet members of the transgender community and would try to resolve their issues on priority.

He said he had ordered the immediate registration of FIR in case of violence against transgender persons.

The CCPO said the Peshawar SSP (investigations) had been directed to thoroughly investigate cases registered on the complaints of transgender persons.

He said he had ordered the compilation of the ‘history sheets’ of those involved in the repeated acts of violence and intimidation and strict action against them.Mr Gandapur said the Transgender Support Desk would be set up at the Gulabhar police station with a woman police officer tasked with receiving complaints from transgender persons.

He said an icon would be added to the city police’s mobile complaint app to facilitate transgender persons.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2020