Human Rights Commission Urges Immediate Protection for Transgender Community in Swabi Amid Eviction Threats
HRCP urges authorities to safeguard rights of transgender persons following elders’ attempt to expel them from Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has strongly condemned a recent move by community elders in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who formed a committee aimed at expelling transgender persons from the district. The HRCP described the action as unconstitutional, discriminatory, and a form of incitement to violence against a marginalized community.
“No citizen can be deprived of the right to reside, work, or earn a livelihood anywhere in Pakistan on the basis of gender identity,” the Commission said in a statement posted on social media platform X. It further urged provincial and district authorities to ensure the safety, dignity, and fundamental rights of transgender persons under the Constitution and the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018.
According to Dawn, the 11-member committee was formed following an incident at a music event, during which transgender individuals allegedly used “inappropriate language” toward police officers trying to shut down the program. Committee members, including Maulana Samad and Yasir Khan, stated that transgender persons should leave the district peacefully and seek livelihoods elsewhere. They warned that the police would intervene if voluntary compliance failed.
In response, transgender individuals issued a video message rejecting the threats, stating that they had always respected local elders and traditions. They asserted their constitutional rights and emphasized that they were unfairly blamed for encouraging youth attendance at their performances. The group expressed willingness to halt performances if the government provided alternative employment opportunities.
