On March 14, Sameer Iftikhar was one of the five trans women who were shot and injured when a group of armed men broke into their home and opened fire. The wounded transgender persons were taken to the Ayub Medical Complex after the attack. Police arrested Sabtin Fida of Bedadi for the attack, at that time charging him with attempted murder.
Sameer, who was a resident of Chakia Road Mansehra, was being treated at the hospital for gunshot wounds, but succumbed to their injuries.
Mona, another trans woman shot in the incident, told police, “I reached my room near Pima Hospital along with my other colleagues. Sabtin who was already in the room, opened fire on us with an intent to kill us.”
Several days later, another transgender person, Chaanda, was murdered in Mardan, KP.
As many as 70 transgender people have been killed in KP in the last few years, according to an activist speaking with the Tribune.
The transgender community in Pakistan has historically faced stigma, poverty and marginalization, despite various laws which have been passed for the community’s protection. In 2018, parliament enacted the progressive Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018, which legally ensures equal protection to transgender citizens and safeguards their rights. The law allows people to choose their gender identity on official documents and prohibits discrimination in schools, at work, on public transportation, or in hospitals.