More often than not, minority rights in Pakistan are in a sorry state. If recent incidents serve as a measure, there has been a spike in transgressions and acts of violence against the transgender community, Alesha’s case being one of marked neglect in a series of cases that are forgotten or remain unreported.
One case of harassment against the transgender community, however, has seems to have been avenged.
A grotesque video surfaced on the interwebs where someone who seems like a gang leader in Sialkot, later identified as Jajja Butt, was seen flogging a member of the transgender community. There is an obvious unrest around the scene with terrified transgender members and other gang members trying to put an end to this heinous act. While all this abuse was recorded on camera, it has since been shared thousands of times on Facebook through multiple pages. Many asked for the said individuals to be brought to justice.
Social media went ablaze with calls for justice:
Transgender & queer community is one the most marginalized yet the most demonized minority groups of Pakistan, there is no doubt about that.
— Mfatima (@Misanthrope30) November 14, 2016
Just saw a #transgender telling how they're treated in Pakistan. Why is this not trending ? Things we shuld put up-front are kept at last.
— Male XY ➡️??⬅️ (@drapple_90) November 14, 2016
Is there any official body, #ministry or #department that deals with issues on #gender and #sexual minorities in #Pakistan ? #transgender
— Fahmida Iqbal Khan (@FahmidaIqbal) November 13, 2016
The police has responded fairly quickly and arrested ten personnel involved in this act.
TransAction Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a local transgender rights group petitioning for transgender rights in Pakistan has also posted a video interview with Jolie, another transgender woman present at the scene. According to the video, several men barged in their residence, torturing them for hours before and after the said flogging. Four trans women, Adeeba, Dillagi, Hina, Adil and Shanaya were abducted as a consequence.
Jajja Butt was seen giving the following statement in police custody regarding his disgusting behavior:
“I was punishing him because he didn’t refrain from his bad habits, which I pointed out to him several times”
Along with Jajja Butt, other members of the ‘Tinda Group’ are also in custody on crimes of extortion. According to another media source, Tinda Group had forbidden the transgender community to be a part of any social gatherings without its permission, which is what caused this episode.
Whatever the reason might be, we’re absolutely horrified that this occurred and appreciate that justice has been served. And that too, timely.