Karachi:
The bodies of three transgender people recovered on Sunday, of bushes in an isolated area near the Nagori Cooperative Housing Society, adjacent to the M-9 highway of Superhighty. The identities of the victims were then confirmed through the coincidence of digital footprints.
When notifying the finding, Memon Goth police, the Rangers officials and rescue teams arrived at the scene. The police cordoned off the area and began a search operation, while the unit of the crime scene (CSU) was called to collect evidence.
After inspecting the crime scene, SSP Malir, Abdul Khaliq Pirzada, told the media representatives that the three people were shot dead. As reported, each one was shot once, with two of them shot in the chest and one in the head. In addition, the SSP reported that the scene suggests that the victims were killed in the same place, since two bullet plots were found near. Two bodies were found together, while the third was found a few meters away, which suggests that the third victim may have tried to escape. In addition, the SSP revealed that the condition of the bodies suggests that they had been lying there for only a few hours, however, the medical legal official (MLO) will confirm the exact time of death.
Police recovered two 9 mm caps, a torch, a handkerchief roll and other elements of the scene. Recovered housings must coincide to determine if a single weapon or multiple weapons were used in the attack. SSP Pirzada revealed that no CCTV cameras were located nearby, but declared that the surrounding cameras are being reviewed for any possible footage. He also pointed out that there are indications that the victims frequently visited the location, with some recovered, used and support this theory.
The SSP reported that no elements were found in the bodies that could help identify the victims, and no mobile phones of the scene were recovered. However, Sho Memon Goth, Javed Abro, revealed the identities of the deceased, confirmed through the coincidence of fingerprints. The victims were identified as Alex Riyasat aka Aini, 20, son of Riyasat Masih, originally from Sheikhupura, Muhammad Jeel aias Samera, son of Muhammad Murad, originally from Khairpur, and an unidentified person known by Alias Astma.
Declaration of Problems of the Interactive Gender Alliance
The Interactive Gender Alliance (GIA), a transgender rights organization, issued a statement pointing out that the three people killed, Asthma, Samera and Aini were residents of areas around Bilawal Goth and Safora Town. His livelihood was begging, and they had left their homes to beg alms and earn a living, but they never returned.
The GIA said that these repeated incidents of violence against the transgender community stand out as evidence that the community is systematically directed. In this sense, the Alliance declared that “it is not just about the murder of some people, it is an attempt to intimidate and silence the entire community.”
The Alliance called to the Government of Sindh and the Police to carry out a transparent investigation that helped the rapid arrest of all those involved in the murders. The GIA also demanded that a special protection unit for the safety of transgender people be established, asking for strict legislation and application to prevent hate crimes and violence against the community.
Trans community stages protest
In response to triple murder, the transgender community organized a protest outside the Jinnah hospital. The demonstration was led by the leader of transgender rights, Bindiya Rana, who strongly condemned the incident, announced a press conference and protests throughout the province. To affirm “These events have created immense fear among the community,” Bindiya questioned “should we stop abandoning our homes completely?”
CM orders consultation
Sindh’s prime minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also realized the murders and issued orders to the IG Police to immediately arrest the murderers. Murad said the murderers should be arrested at all costs and ordered to be sent a report. The CM declared: “The transgender are an oppressed section of society” and said that the State will not tolerate the murder of any oppressed and innocent citizen.
