PESHAWAR: Transgender persons have expressed serious concern over delay in arrest of accused involved in violence against members of their community and demanded of the government to provide protection to them.

Addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, Arzoo Khan, chairperson of Manzil Foundation, a welfare organisation working for the community, said that transgender persons were denied of their rights and were subjected to violence and harassment.

She alleged that transgender persons were not getting justice from any government institution and their cases were not being registered at any police station.

The community members, she said, were murdered and subjected to violence but police were not taking any action to investigate those cases. She alleged that police and other government officials were demanding bribes from them and they were being blackmailed and harassed.

Arzoo Khan alleged that there were 18 extortion groups in Peshawar that were demanding money from transgender persons with the support of police.

She demanded of government to provide justice to the community and protect its rights.

She said that action should be taken against the SHO of Gulbahar police station as he was harassing and blackmailing transgender persons.

Later, the community members also staged a protest demonstration outside Peshawar Press Club, condemning police and the SHO of Gulbahar police station.

The protesters chanted slogans against police and the government. They demanded protection for the community and arrest of all culprits involved in crime against members of the community.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2025