PESHAWAR/ Mansehra: Members of the transgender community have expressed serious concern over the increasing incidents of violence on the community people and demanded of the government to take practical steps for their protection.

During a protest demonstration outside the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, the transgender individuals said killing of Shakeel alias Gul Panra and injuring of Tariq alias Chahat had caused serious unrest among the entire community.

Holding banners and placards the protesters shouted for their protection and demanded punishment to the accused. They said despite tall claims the government was least bothered to provide them protection.

Counting incidents of violence which took place in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the protesters said many transgender persons had lost lives and sustained injuries during the past few years.

They said the influential people were in the habit of keeping the transgender community members hostage for hours and depriving them of cash, mobile phones and other valuables for no fault of theirs.

They asked for registration of cases against those involved in sending life threats to the transgender persons.

Meanwhile, transgender persons and women activists of Jamaat-i-Islami took to the streets in Mansehra to condemn the motorway gang rape incident, demand public hanging of the culprits.

The rally which started from outside the press club ended at the Khatm-i-Nobuwat Chowk.

Holding banners and placards the protesters demanded of the government to curb such cases.

“We want public execution of culprits involved in sexual assaults on women and children,” Nadra Khan, the president of transgender association in Hazara, said.

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2020