2 arrested in Jhelum for allegedly selling transgender persons

Published March 6, 2019
Complainant Neelum says she was being harassed and threatened by thugs hired by another transgender group. — AFP/File
Complainant Neelum says she was being harassed and threatened by thugs hired by another transgender group. — AFP/File

Jhelum police arrested two transgender persons on Wednesday after they were accused of selling members of the district's transgender community.

A first information report (FIR), on the complaint of Mohammad Nadim alias Neelam, was lodged under Section 370 of the Pakistan Penal Code (buying or disposing of any person as a slave), in Dina police station of the Jhelum district. Neelam alleged that a transgender person called Haji Anwar had sold her off for Rs1 million and that she had no information about the deal.

She said that she had found out about the matter from a video sent to a WhatsApp group in which a transgender person, whom she identified as Anwar, was seen signing a "fake stamp paper issued from the Jhelum kuchehri" with her name on it. Other transgenders could be seen in the video as well, she said.

Neelam further stated that she was being threatened and harassed by thugs that were hired by a group of transgender people who did not belong to the Jhelum community. She said that the men came to her house every other day and cursed her and tried to kidnap her. According to Neelum, the group was involved in the trading of several transgender persons who were residents of Jhelum including Mohammad Arshad Kiyani alias Nagayen, who was sold recently.

She urged the police to register a case against the group and take action to ensure the protection of the transgender community.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.