In a chilling incident that underscores the rising violence against marginalized groups in Pakistan, three transgender persons were brutally shot dead on the outskirts of Karachi in the Memon Goth area late Sunday night.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir, Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, the victims were killed at close range, with two shots in the chest and one in the head.
Police recovered two 9mm bullet casings, a torch, a roll of tissue, and other personal items from the scene. Investigators believe the victims were attacked at the spot where their bodies were later discovered in bushes near the Super Highway (M-9 Motorway), close to the Nagori Cooperative Housing Society.
The deceased were identified as 20-year-old Alex Riyasat, alias Aini, son of Riyasat Masih from Sheikhupura; 28-year-old Muhammad Jeel, alias Sameera, son of Muhammad Murad from Khairpur; and another victim known by the alias Asma, whose full identity has not yet been confirmed.
Members of the transgender community, however, recognized them as Ainee, Asma, and Sameera. Their bodies were shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre for post-mortem examinations, which are expected to shed more light on the killings.
Police have registered a murder case under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code and formed special investigation teams. Nearby CCTV footage is being reviewed, while fingerprints and ballistic evidence have been collected. The motive behind the killings remains unknown, but investigators have ruled out terrorism at this stage.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah strongly condemned the attack stressing that “Transgender persons are a vulnerable segment of society, and we must all give them dignity and respect,”.
The killings have sparked outrage among rights groups. Amnesty International and other human rights organizations expressed alarm over the escalating violence against transgender individuals in Pakistan, urging swift government action to guarantee their safety and uphold their fundamental rights.
The incident adds to a troubling series of attacks on Pakistan’s transgender community, which continues to face systemic discrimination, harassment, and violence despite legal recognition of their rights.
By Umm Habiba
