Transgender Person Killed in Charsadda, Fear Grips Community

According to police, an unidentified assailant shot and strangled 23-year-old Gulalai, also known as Fazal-e-Wahid alias Gurgura, on Wednesday night around 11 PM.

CHARSADDA: Another transgender person has been brutally murdered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Charsadda district, heightening concerns over the safety of the community.

According to police, an unidentified assailant shot and strangled 23-year-old Gulalai, also known as Fazal-e-Wahid alias Gurgura, on Wednesday night around 11 PM. The incident occurred at Faisal Plaza on Tangi Road.

The FIR states that the victim, originally from Ajara village in Tehsil Tangi, was shot in the back and strangled with a scarf. A case has been registered under Section 302 against an unknown suspect.

Munsif, the victim's brother, told TNN that he received a call from Charsadda District Headquarters Hospital at around 3 AM, informing him that his sibling’s body was in the morgue: "When I arrived, I saw my brother had been shot and strangled. After the post-mortem, we took the body back to our village and buried him at 2 PM on Thursday."

Also Read: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Families of 42 Martyred Police Officers Await Compensation for Over a Year

Following the murder, police conducted raids at various locations but have yet to make any arrests. However, sources said that a mobile phone recovered from the crime scene could lead investigators to the suspect.

Transgender Community in Fear

The transgender community in Charsadda is in shock and fear after the incident. The TransAction Alliance, a transgender rights group, revealed that over 145 transgender persons have been murdered in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the past nine years, yet perpetrators continue to evade justice.

Muskan, the president of the local transgender community, recounted the horrifying sight of Gulalai’s body: “I saw the body lying on the ground and immediately informed the police. This is not the first time such an incident has happened, but the authorities have failed to take effective measures for our protection. We are forced to live in fear.”

Previous Cases of Transgender Murders

This is not the first time a transgender person has been brutally killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

• In 2021, a transgender person named Gulalai was murdered in a plaza on Mardan Road by a suspect named Faisal, who was later sentenced to death.
• In May 2024, a transgender person named Gul Panra was shot and injured by an assailant named Taimoor.

Will the Killer Be Caught?

The critical question remains: Will the police be able to track down the killer? When TNN attempted to get a response from the SHO of the City Police Station, he declined to comment.

Authorities claim that the mobile phone found at the crime scene is helping in the investigation, but the transgender community demands more than just inquiries. They urge immediate and concrete actions to prevent further bloodshed.