In the main city of Mingora, Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two unidentified men brutally assaulted a 14-year-old young transgender person identified as Umair Shayan, a resident of Sakhakot, on Monday before fleeing the scene.
Volunteers from a welfare organization rushed the injured victim to Saidu Sharif Hospital for first aid, where they are currently under treatment. According to doctors, the victim suffered broken teeth, a spinal fracture, and faces a risk of permanent disability. However, the condition is now stable, and medical treatment continues.
Following the incident, District Police Officer Swat, Muhammad Omar Khan, took immediate notice and directed SHO Mingora, Habib Said, to take swift action. Acting promptly, police arrested the suspects from Akhtarabad Banr and registered a case against them.
According to Swat Police spokesperson Moin Fayaz, the arrested suspects were identified as Zeeshan, son of Bahadur, a resident of Mardan, and Salahuddin, son of Muhammad Bashar, a resident of Fizagat, Swat. Both have been taken into custody and charged accordingly.
Taking notice of the incident, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah ordered strict legal action against those involved and instructed authorities to ensure the provision of full medical treatment to the injured transgender person.
In compliance with the Chief Secretary’s directives, DPO Swat Muhammad Omar Khan commended the Mingora police for the prompt arrest of the main suspect, Zeeshan, and his accomplice Salahuddin. He reiterated that Swat Police acted swiftly and decisively to ensure justice.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Swat, Saleem Jan Marwat, also took serious notice of the incident and directed the concerned authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the victim. Acting on these directives, Deputy District Health Officer Dr. Fazal Arif and Additional Assistant Commissioner-II Babuzai Tariq Khan visited Saidu Group of Teaching Hospitals to inquire about Shayan’s health.
During the visit, the Deputy Medical Superintendent briefed them in detail on the patient’s condition and assured that all necessary medicines and facilities were being provided.
The District Health Officer and Additional Assistant Commissioner instructed the hospital administration to ensure there was no negligence in treatment and that the victim received complete medical attention and special care.
The Swat district administration reaffirmed that safeguarding the dignity, safety, and welfare of every segment of society remains the government’s top priority, and strict legal action will be taken against those involved in such heinous acts.
The tragic occurrence has sparked anger not only among the public and those supporting the cause of transgender rights but also among the latter. The transgender community has urged the authorities to make the offender a fateful victim and to take measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The head of the Transgender Community Organization, Farzana Riaz, has claimed that a minimum of 195 transgender people are killed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, and the scale of killing is not less than that of an organized crime incident.
President Farzana Riaz stated that they have accused the local police of colluding with extortionists and displaying bias against the transgender community. She noted that despite pending court cases, individuals involved in kidnapping, extortion, and murder of transgender individuals remain unarrested.
Furthermore, she alleged that police, in collusion with local government officials and community leaders, raid transgender people's homes, physically abuse them, and issue unlawful expulsion notices, forcing them to leave the area.