PESHAWAR:
In a groundbreaking initiative, a historic decision has been made to create a special desk for transgender persons at all Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) police stations, aimed at addressing the issues faced by the community.
The decision has been put into action at the Gulbahar police station in Peshawar, where the first-ever “trans desk” has been instituted. Peshawar police have solicited three names from the transgender association, and once verified, these individuals will be assigned to the newly created desk.
Speaking to The Express TribuneSSP Operations Peshawar, Kashif Aftab Abbasi, noted that the transgender community’s demand for a separate desk in the province prompted this decision. He further explained that upon nomination by the association, the selected individuals would be deployed to the desk within three days.
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In addition to the establishment of the special desk, a six-member committee at the district level has been reinstated for the protection of the transgender community. Chaired by SSP Operations, the committee will convene monthly meetings to address issues, with two members representing the transgender community.
Simultaneously, another significant development took place with the inauguration of the first-ever open court session for transgender persons in Peshawar, drawing attendees from the community across the district.
Arzu, the president of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Transgender Community, acknowledged the establishment of the special desk but emphasised the need for sustained efforts to ensure the community’s long-term well-being.
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Arzu highlighted that over 100 community members have been killed in the province since 2013, and incidents of violence against transgender persons continue to escalate.
Mahie Gill, a transgender person from Peshawar, complained that whenever a member of the community is targeted, an FIR is promptly lodged but the perpetrators are released soon after.
Gill expressed hope that the open court session in Peshawar is a step in the right direction, urging similar initiatives across the province to provide ongoing support and reduce violence against the transgender community.
