MARDAN: The president of the Trans Action Alliance, Farzana Riaz, and the executive director of Manzil Foundation, Madam Arzoo Khan, stated that violent attacks had increased against transgender community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the last few years.

The members of transgender community led by Farzana Riaz and Arzoo Khan held a press conference followed by a protest demonstration outside the Mardan Press Club here on Wednesday.

The Trans Action Alliance president said that since 2015, a total of 158 transgender individuals had been murdered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding, unfortunately, not a single one has been awarded justice so far, Farzana added.

They said firing on transgender individuals had become a daily occurrence, and the government had completely failed to provide protection to the community, while police considered interaction with transgender persons beneath their dignity.

They appealed to human rights organisations to become their voice and stand with them so their voice against injustice could become stronger.

They also held a protest rally from the press club to the office of the DPO Mardan, and alleged that the police had completely failed to protect them.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2025