April 29, 2026
By Shokat Korai
KARACHI
Noor Hira, a transgender woman working as a dancer in Karachi, was abducted and subjected to gang rape, physical assault, and psychological torture. The incident occurred as she was returning home from a function.
According to Noor Hira, she was travelling in a vehicle with her companions when armed men intercepted them on the way. The suspects, wielding weapons, subjected not only her but also her companions to violence.
“They called out my name, identified me, and took me away. I tried to run, I cried out for help — but no one came,” Noor Hira recounted.
The suspects took her to a warehouse in Farid Colony, where around 25 men were present and subjected her to gang rape, also causing immense physical and psychological abuse.
“These were all people I knew. Dancing is my profession, and they used to attend many of the same events. I recognized their faces,” she said.
Slow police action
Police have so far managed to arrest only one suspect, believed to be the driver of the vehicle used in the abduction. Some suspects have already obtained bail, while two remain at large. Police, however, maintain that the search is ongoing and that the remaining suspects will be apprehended soon.
The suspects also threatened Noor Hira, warning her of serious consequences if she filed a case. Despite the threats, she stood her ground and recorded her statement before a court.
Psychological stress and financial hardship
Noor Hira has been undergoing psychological therapy since the incident. She continues to suffer from back and eye pain as a result of the violence inflicted upon her. She is also facing financial difficulties, as performing at functions was her primary source of income — something she has been unable to do since the attack.
Arrests remain top priority: Sindh govt
Nazia Naz, spokesperson for the Sindh government’s Department of Human Rights, told Voicepk, “The arrest of the suspects is our top priority. We are in full coordination with the police, though some technical issues related to data have caused delays in progress.”
She added that Noor Hira is an educated transgender woman and that the Social Welfare Department would take steps to facilitate her employment.
‘Beauty becomes a danger for us’
Bindia Rana, focal person for the transgender community at the Department of Social Welfare, said this was far from an isolated incident. “In our society, beauty is generally admired — but when that same beauty belongs to someone from the khawaja sira community, it becomes a threat to their very safety,” she said.
She stressed that attacks and violence against transgender people would continue until the community was given representation in policymaking institutions.
“Parliament is where laws are made, but we have no representation in parliament. So who will raise our voice? It is the state’s responsibility to recognize that these people are in crisis — but so far, no one gives it a thought.”
Rana also disclosed that two months ago, her own home was attacked with gunfire and she narrowly escaped. She noted that the attackers have since been identified and arrested.
The silence of the law
According to Bindia Rana, the protection of the transgender community is impossible without effective legislation. “Without the protection of law, we will keep being targeted. The state should think about this — but so far, no one does.”
Noor Hira’s case has once again brought into sharp relief a painful reality that in Pakistan, transgender individuals continue to wait for legal protection, social acceptance, and meaningful attention from the state.