MARDAN: A transgender person was shot dead during a dance party in Mardan on Thursday night.

Police officials of Saru Shah Police Station said a citizen Sareer Ahmed filed a report according to which a music and dance program of transgender persons was underway in Serai Behlol area on Thursday night when the area elders and other people came there and forcibly closed the program. The police report said as soon as the program was closed, someone switched off the light.

The accused including Bilawal, Janay and another person allegedly opened fire due to which a transgender person Mubashir Syed alias Collegi died. Saru shah Police Station filed a report and initiated investigation.

The Mardan incident happened five days after a transgender person was sexually abused in the same district.

Officials of Saddar Police Station said transgender person Mehboob Shah alias Zorawara lodged a complaint in which she stated that she had gone for bathing along with her friend Anmol and after returning she was confronted by three accused at Charsadda Road. She said the three persons subjected her to torture and took her forcibly in their car. She said the three persons subjected her to sexual abuse and left her after that.

On April 01, a transgender person was allegedly kidnapped and tortured and also sexually abused while returning from a music program in Hazar Khwani area of Peshawar.

On March 06, Nowshera Police arrested an accused who attacked and injured a transgender person.

On February 10, a transgender person was allegedly kidnapped in Peshawar and the accused also made her immoral video.

Transgender Alliance KP president Farzana says 78 transgender persons were killed and hundreds others were injured and sexually abused during the last six years. She said transgender persons did not enjoy any legal protection. She said transgender persons did not get much help at police stations, and even if they get help then weaker sections of law are applied in the FIR.

Civil Society Network official Taimur Kamal says the federal government had enacted a law on rights of transgender persons, but its scope has not been extended to provinces even after 18th Constitutional Amendment. He said media reports incidents of crimes against transgender persons more in KP as compared to rest of the country.