Daily Times

In Karachi, the transgender community has been living in fear of being attacked since they received threatening audio and video messages.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed concern over the situation, saying that violence against transgender persons is being incited.

HRCP is alarmed at reports of violence being instigated against the transgender community in Karachi through a wave of threatening audio/video messages, the Commission wrote on Twitter.

HRCP called on the Sindh government to take note of “such systematic attempts to marginalise an already vulnerable community and investigate”.

Vulgar language has been used in these audio and video messages that have been made in Baldia, Orangi, Landhi and different areas of Karachi.

The people in the videos are threatening transgender person with serious consequences.

Bindiya Rana, a Pakistani transgender activist and the founder of Gender Interactive Alliance (GIA), said that an organised campaign against transgender people was launched in May 2021.

More than 200 threatening video and audio messages have been received, Rana said, adding that these messages have created a sense of fear and insecurity among transgender people in Karachi.

The GIA has informed the Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights about the messages in a letter.

On March 31, a transgender person was attacked and tortured at her home in Aziz Bhatti. An FIR of the incident was registered at the Aziz Bhatti police station on March 31.

The accused was arrested today after three-and-a-half months. The accused will be produced in court tomorrow and a remand will be sought, said the investigation officer