June 14, 2025
By Rehan Piracha
LAHORE
In yet another harrowing incident underscoring the precarious lives of transgender individuals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), a transgender performer was shot dead and her companion critically injured during a wedding ceremony in Abbottabad district.
The attack took place on June 13 on Nari Road, within the jurisdiction of Mirpur Police Station. Zaibi, a transgender dancer from Bhera, Sargodha—long settled in Abbottabad—was gunned down while performing. Her friend Benish, hailing from Lahore, sustained serious injuries in the same attack.
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the assailant, identified as Malik Tanveer Sarraf (real name Toqeer Ahmad), opened fire after a heated exchange. He allegedly objected to Zaibi receiving money from someone he considered a rival during the dance. The confrontation escalated, and Tanveer pulled out a weapon, shooting both Zaibi and Benish.
Zaibi died on the spot. Benish was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. An FIR was registered under Sections 302 and 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code based on Benish’s statement. Acting on the orders of District Police Officer (DPO) Umar Tufail, Mirpur police arrested the accused within hours of the incident.
Initial investigations suggest that the suspect and the deceased had a personal relationship, but tensions arose recently—allegedly over the presence of private photos of the suspect on Zaibi’s mobile phone. The suspect was taken to court on Saturday and remanded in police custody till June 16 for interrogation, Mirpur police told Voicepk.
Police are continuing their inquiry, though activists and community members fear the case may end up forgotten like so many before it.
Following the incident, members of the transgender community staged a protest outside Mirpur Police Station, blocking traffic and demanding justice. But for many in the community, hope is dim.
‘Beela’ culture responsible
In a post on X, Mehrub Awan brought to light the issue of ‘Beela’ culture that is faced by the transgender community on a regular basis. She specified that Zaibi’s murder wasn’t due to religious bigotry or transphobia, but rather a result of refusing to be a sex slave to a “beela” – a criminal patron who manages khwjah sirah dancers. Awan suggests this pattern of violence is common, stating that every khawaja sirah dancer’s death is linked to resistance against exploitation by these patrons.
I knew Zaibi.
This isn’t religious bigotry.
This isn’t transphobia.
This is straight up a murder for saying no.
Every single khwajasira dancer’s death has been a death for refusing to be a sex slave to a “beela” – a criminal patron who “manages” a khwajasira dancer. 1/2 https://t.co/CGQFy1q0Po
— Mehrub Awan (@mehrubawan) June 13, 2025
154 transgender persons killed in KP since 2015
Tragically, seven transgender individuals have been murdered in Mardan, Peshawar, and Abbottabad this year alone, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of the trans community.
Farzana Riaz, a prominent transgender rights activist in KP, expressed deep frustration over what she described as the “culture of impunity” surrounding violence against transgender individuals. “Since 2015, 154 transgender people have been brutally murdered in KP,” she told Voicepk. “Not a single killer has been convicted. All of them have gotten away with their crimes.”
Riaz criticized both the police and broader justice system for failing to protect transgender lives. “When a trans person is attacked, police either refuse to register a proper FIR or they apply weak legal sections, giving the accused an easy way out. Many officers do not take our complaints seriously,” she added.
One of the most damaging patterns, Riaz pointed out, is the frequent forgiveness of perpetrators by victims’ families—often due to social pressure or religious justifications tied to “honour.” In many cases, families have distanced themselves from their transgender relatives, and are not involved in seeking justice.
“In most cases, families are not even involved in registering the FIR or pursuing legal proceedings. Even when they are, they’re pressured to forgive,” she explained. “This is the dangerous intersection of honor, religion, and law that allows murderers to walk free.”
She also lamented the day-to-day threats transgender individuals face in KP. “Harassment, threats, and abuse are daily realities for us. There’s no proper protection, and even the KP government’s transgender protection policies remain on paper. Implementation is almost non-existent.”
A bleak record of justice
Official records support her claims. In August 2024, the KP provincial assembly was informed that 267 cases of violence against transgender persons had been registered between 2019 and 2023. Yet, only one conviction was reported during this period. According to documents presented to the provincial assembly, reported cases of violence against transgender individuals have fluctuated, with 17 incidents in 2019, 40 in 2020, 61 in 2021, 88 in 2022, and 61 in 2023.
Despite the clear increase in violence, conviction rates remain abysmally low. Lawmakers briefly discussed the issue in the KP Assembly session on August 22, 2024, but no substantive policy changes were announced.