Police cruelly ‘laugh’ at trans people bravely protesting against rising violence

Police officers in Pakistan cruelly laughed at trans and cisgender activists protecting against a surge in transphobic violence that has seized the country.

On Friday (13 August), more than 100 demonstrators gathered outside the National Press Club in Islamabad, the country’s capital, to bring greater attention to the surge – and local law enforcement’s sluggish response to deal with it, Planet Transgender reported.

“Violation of transgender rights,” one protester’s sign read at the protesters were joined by members of the Awami Workers Party, a left-wing party.

But officers sent to shield protesters from brutality instead derided them, alleged Nayyab Ali, the founder of Transgender Rights Consultants Pakistan, one of the first trans rights groups registered to the Securities & Exchange Commission of Pakistan, on Twitter.

“This police force should be used for the protection of citizens,” she wrote.

“They are laughing at the trans, cis peaceful protestors who are at Press club to show solidarity.”

At least six trans people have been murdered in Pakistan since 20 November 2020, which is the annual Trans Day of Remembrance.