Pakistan

Transgender people attacked by unknown men in Pakistan, one dead

Pakistan: A transgender person was shot dead by unknown men in Karachi, while police rounded up over two dozen suspects including a female robber from different areas in the city, officials said.

According to Karachi police the shooting occurred overnight on Wednesday. The assailants traveling in a 4WD vehicle first harassed the group of transgenders standing in the street by throwing rotten eggs at them and then opened fire, resulting in the death of Chanda Sharmeeli.

Police informed that shell casings of a 9mm pistol were found from the crime scene.

The law enforcement authorities have registered the murder case and a CCTV video from a nearby bank is being sought.

In 2009, Pakistan became one of the first countries in the world to give recognition to transgenders legally, allowing them to obtain identity cards, while a few from the community have also run in elections.

Despite these steps, many transgender Pakistanis face discrimination and are often reduced to begging or prostitution and subjected to extortion and violence.

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