January 3, 2025
By Kaleem Ullah
LAHORE
Violence against the transgenders community especially in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa shows no sign of abating. On Tuesday, yet another trans person was shot dead in Peshawar.
The trans person identified by community and the police as Asad alias ‘Bijli’ was killed on Tuesday after unidentified armed assailants opened fire on her in the Hassan Ghari area on Warsak Road. The incident occurred when the victim was present in the locality and attackers suddenly emerged, firing multiple shots before fleeing the scene.
Police officials registered the case at the Faqirabad Police Station, noting in the First Information Report that the trans person Bijli had been identified as Basit, son of Momin. According to the FIR, the killing took place in the jurisdiction of Hassan Ghari, whereas the victim was a resident of Safaid Dheri, and had been shot dead by unknown assailants. Initial investigations and police sources suggest that the victim may have been targeted for allegedly “refusing friendship.” However, authorities maintain that the motive behind the killing has not yet been conclusively established.
Bijli sustained critical injuries and was immediately shifted to a nearby hospital. Despite emergency medical treatment, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival. Upon receiving information about the incident, a heavy contingent of police reached the scene, cordoned off the area, and collected forensic evidence to assist in the investigation.
“The investigation is being conducted from multiple angles,” a police official said, adding that CCTV footage from nearby locations and other available evidence are being reviewed to identify and arrest the suspects involved in the attack.
The killing has sparked widespread condemnation from members of the transgender community who expressed deep concern over the continued violence against transgender persons in the province. Community leaders have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and called for concrete steps to ensure the safety and protection of transgender individuals.
Transgender rights organizations strongly denounced the brutal killing, urging the provincial government and law enforcement agencies to move beyond statements and take decisive action. They emphasized that repeated incidents of violence reflect systemic failures in protecting one of the most vulnerable communities in society.
Arzoo Khan, Executive Director of the Manzil Foundation and Provincial President of the Transgender Community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, confirmed the incident in a statement. “Unfortunately, a transgender person, Bijli, has been brutally murdered in Peshawar,” she said.
She added that the killing, which occurred on the second day of the new year, serves as a grim reminder that transgender people remain unsafe despite the existence of laws meant to protect them. “Although legal frameworks are in place, there is little to no implementation on the ground. The absence of effective protection mechanisms continues to put transgender lives at risk,” she said.
Earlier, sharing data on violence against transgender persons, Arzoo Khan told Voicepk that eight transgender individuals have already been killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2025 alone. Since 2009, she said, the death toll has reached 158, while more than 1,800 incidents of violence against transgender persons have been reported across the province.
“These figures reflect a pattern of unchecked violence rather than isolated incidents,” she said, stressing the need for accountability, police reforms, and community-sensitive policing.
The murder of Bijli is part of a disturbing trend. In July last year, a 32-year-old trans person, Taj Muhammad alias ‘Asady’, was brutally shot dead by unidentified assailants inside her flat located in a local plaza in the Tehkal area of Peshawar. The attackers managed to escape, and the case remains unresolved.
Similarly, on May 24, 28-year-old Shahab alias ‘Wafa’ was shot in the head and killed in Dargai, District Malakand, while returning from a wedding performance. According to reports, the attacker, identified as Shaukat, ambushed her outside the venue using a Kalashnikov, accompanied by an unidentified accomplice. Police sources said the motive was allegedly rejection by the victim.
Another tragic incident occurred on June 13, when ‘Zaibi’, a transgender performer from Sargodha, was gunned down during a wedding event in Abbottabad’s Nari Road area. Her companion, Beenish, from Lahore, who was present at the time, sustained critical injuries and was rushed to hospital.
Despite repeated assurances from authorities, transgender activists argue that impunity, social stigma, and lack of political will continue to expose the community to extreme violence. They warn that without meaningful reforms, justice for victims will remain elusive, and the cycle of violence will persist.