Transvestites protest attack on colleague in Hazara

MANSEHRA: The transgender community here on Monday took to the streets against attack on a colleague, who sustained bullet wounds and was hospitalised in Abbottabad the previous day.

The protesters, who staged a rally outside the press club against attack on Kashi Chand, marched on the roads. The protesters chanted slogans against the federal and provincial governments and demanded the arrest of attackers who had fled after firing at their colleague.

Three armed men entered the residence of Kashi Chand at Mohallah Ayub in the city and opened indiscriminate fire on her.  She suffered bullets wounds and was rushed to the King Abdullah Teaching Hospital, wherefrom doctors referred her to the Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad.

Also in the day, the president of Hazara Shemale Association Maria Khan and secretary general Nadra Khan, accompanied by their colleagues, spoke to journalists at the press club, demanding the immediate arrest of the culprits.

“We have informed the police about possible attacks on our community after the Peshawar incident where our colleague was shot dead, but the police didn’t take us seriously, and as a result our colleague was attacked,” Maria said.

She said that the anti-social elements wanted to use them for their sexual satisfaction and when their community members resisted, they faced threats and attacks.  “Kala Khan, who is nominated in the FIR as the main accused, wanted to have sexual relations with Kashi Chand, but she refused to oblige him,” she alleged.

Speaking on occasion, Nadra Khan said that neither the federal nor provincial government was serious about providing security to the members of the transgender community. “We want immediate arrest of the attackers or else we will take to the streets across the province,” Nadra warned.

She said that Kala Khan and his companions barged into house of Kashi Chand but neither the police nor the local community came to rescue her. Nadra said the government should legislate for the security of the transgender community members as attacks on them were increasing with each passing day. The city police lodged an FIR against Kala Khan, who belongs to Muzaffarabad, and his two accomplices. However, the accused are still at large.