KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) — In a tragic incident reflecting the systemic violence against marginalized groups, gunmen shot and killed three transgender women on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan's largest city. The shooting took place on Sunday, and the victims were found on a roadside, all shot at close range. They were subsequently buried in a local graveyard, as confirmed by senior police official Javed Abro.
The exact motive behind the attack remains unclear, prompting authorities to initiate a manhunt for the assailants. Sindh Province Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah condemned the killings, recognizing the transgender community as an oppressed segment of society. He pledged that those responsible for the attack would face justice.
In response to the killings, members of the transgender community gathered for a protest outside Karachi's state-run Jinnah Hospital, where the bodies were taken for autopsy. Activists warned of nationwide demonstrations if the authorities failed to apprehend the killers. Transgender rights activist Bindiya Rana expressed that violence against the community is pervasive and embedded within societal norms. She threatened a countrywide protest if law enforcement did not successfully identify the perpetrators.
The Gender Interactive Alliance, a local rights organization, identified the victims as residents of Karachi who made a living by begging. The group highlighted an alarming pattern of violence, referencing a separate knife attack two days prior that critically injured another transgender woman at Sea View Beach in Karachi. The alliance articulated that these back-to-back tragedies indicate that the community is being systematically targeted, stating that this is not merely about isolated killings but represents an effort to terrorize and silence an entire group.
Transgender individuals in Pakistan, a predominantly Muslim nation, often face abuse and discrimination. They are not only victims of violence but also of so-called honor killings, which are carried out by relatives who seek to punish perceived sexual transgressions. Despite the recognition of transgender people as a third gender by Pakistan's Supreme Court, legal protections remain insufficient in practice.
In 2018, the Pakistani parliament enacted legislation aimed at securing fundamental rights for transgender individuals, including provisions for legal gender recognition. However, activists continue to assert that social stigma and violence against the community persist unabated.
The recent murders have underscored the urgent need for protective measures for transgender individuals, as well as wider support from civil society to combat the violence that endangers their lives.
