SWABI: A transgender person was killed, while his colleagues survived when they came under attack at the Swabi Interchange on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway here on Tuesday, the police said.

A party of Chota Lahor police reached the spot and collected evidence from the crime scene.

Noorul Haq alias Noor, a transgender person, told the police that they were on way to Peshawar for performing in a musical show. He added when they reached the Swabi Interchange, a call was made by someone on the phone of the deceased, Rahamsher alias Wafa, asking him to pull up on the roadside.

Later, he said Zaraq Shah, a resident of Rustam area of Mardan, arrived there, and after exchanging hot words with Wafa, opened fire, leaving the transgender person seriously injured. He made good his escape.

DSP headquarters Farooq said the deceased had friendship with Zaraq Khan, but their relation had turned sour of late. “Once I had resolved their differences in my office, but after sometime they turned against each other,” he added.

Meanwhile, DSP Chota Lahor said the accompanying transgender persons were taking the injured to Mardan Medical Complex, but he succumbed to injuries on the way. Later, the body was brought back to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, where his autopsy would be conducted The deceased belonged to Karachi, but was living in Swabi along with other friends.

An FIR has been registered against Zaraq Shah in the Chota Lahor city police station.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2022