Grim Truth of Transgender Lives in Pakistan

Dr Tauseef Ahmed Khan

Under Section 3 of the Transgender Persons Protection of Rights Act, 2018, every transgender citizen of Pakistan has the right to be recognized according to their self-perceived gender identity. They can register or update their CNIC, CRC, driving license, and passport, ensuring dignity, equality, and full legal recognition.

The killing of three members of the transgender community near Malir, a suburban area of Karachi, reflects society’s apathy. These individuals were shot dead at close range. The police are investigating the murders, but a senior police officer stated that the incident cannot be categorized as terrorism. However, he had no evidence regarding the motives behind the killings. It could be personal enmity or simply hatred toward transgender persons.

In Pakistan, transgender individuals are repeatedly subjected to violence and targeted killings. Reports of their murders and the discovery of their bodies surface regularly from various cities. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, in particular, faces ongoing terrorism, with daily reports of bombings, targeted killings, kidnappings, and the murders of civilians and law enforcement personnel.

At the same time, operations against anti-state elements and the loss of human lives during such operations are frequently reported. Large parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are also victims of climate change. This year’s monsoon rains and river floods caused widespread destruction. Alongside these crises, news also emerges about killings within the transgender community and actions taken against them.

The majority of transgender individuals are uneducated and live below the poverty line. They usually earn their living by performing at childbirth celebrations and weddings. In Swabi, 80 miles from Peshawar, a group organized a musical event. People traveled from faraway areas to attend, making the night lively. However, police raided the gathering with a heavy force. Around 80 transgender persons and many spectators were arrested.

The police did not take action against the influential organizers but arrested poor transgender persons and some attendees. Following a jirga decision in Swabi, all transgender individuals were ordered to leave the district. They were told late at night that they had less than 24 hours to vacate the area. Police and district authorities began implementing the jirga’s decision. The situation for the transgender community became dire, as they were accused of spreading obscenity and vulgarity.

For these individuals, leaving the area was the only option. One transgender reportedly said to her pet cat: “Mano, you can stay here, but we don’t know where we will go.” Another transgender asked: “Where will the 80 of us go?” When news of the jirga and its decision spread in the media, the police began to realize the seriousness of the situation.

Meanwhile, Farzana Safdar, President of the Transgender Alliance, filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court. The honorable court immediately took notice. Swabi police later stated that no individual or group has the right to expel anyone from a district. Upholding the constitution and law, the police declared they would not implement an illegal jirga decision. For a time, this vulnerable community gained some protection. Still, the humanitarian crisis remained unresolved. According to one leader of the Transgender Alliance, nearly 150 transgender individuals were murdered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a single year, and the police failed to arrest the perpetrators.

History shows that transgender people have existed alongside the evolution of human society. Across eras, they have been tasked with household chores, entertainment, and message delivery. At times, they even served in royal security forces. Islamic rulers’ histories reveal that some transgender persons held highly important state positions and often became close royal advisors. Yet a deeper reading of history shows they were mostly confined to singing, dancing, and begging, leaving them socially excluded.

In modern times, however, Europe and other Asian countries have integrated transgender persons as educated citizens contributing in all professional fields. At the start of this century, discussions began in Pakistan on improving their conditions. Former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry ordered the issuance of identity cards to transgender persons, officially recognizing them. Provinces also reserved employment quotas for them. Under the 2018 Transgender Act, their right to self-identity was secured, creating awareness about education. As a result, transgender persons are now seen participating more actively in various fields.

The media has reported about a transgender MBBS doctor and several qualified lawyers. Yet the majority remain uneducated, surviving on begging and performance earnings. A comprehensive plan is needed to lift them from poverty and help them live as dignified citizens.

The country continues to operate under double standards. In Sindh’s local government system, a seat is reserved for transgender persons. Yet, one transgender revealed that a right-wing religious party simultaneously challenged the Transgender Act in the Supreme Court while nominating a transgender candidate in Karachi’s local elections. The murder of three transgender persons in Karachi is a test.

This test is not only for the government or the police, but for all of us. If we remain silent, the cycle will continue, more lives will be lost, and we will be left issuing nothing more than statements of “sorrow” and “condemnation.” But if we unite today, raise our voices, demand justice, and work to change societal attitudes, this tragedy could become the beginning of change.

Standing in solidarity with transgender persons is not just a moral duty but a human responsibility. Their dreams are the same as ours; their hearts beat the same way ours do; their smiles are as precious as those of our children. Why, then, should their lives be considered cheap? How long will we abandon society’s most vulnerable to their fate? How long will we assure killers that their crimes will go unpunished? How long will we blind ourselves to humanity’s most basic lesson?

The time has come for us all to pledge that transgender persons are equal citizens of this land. Their blood is as precious as ours; their existence as valid as ours. Protecting them, respecting them, and fulfilling their dreams is a responsibility we all share. That is justice, that is humanity, and that should be our true identity.