LAHORE: The Punjab police has replicated the first protection centre established in Rawalpindi to the entire province to provide legal aid to Pakistan’s marginalised transgender community.

In addition to the legal help, the centres will also facilitate the transgender community to get their complaints relating to the gender-based violence lodged without facing hassles.

The Punjab police had established first Police Khidmat Markaz and Reporting Centre for transgenders in Rawalpindi in 2020.

The decision was taken after the Rawalpindi police included the first-ever transgender woman, Reem Sharif, in the force. She was hired to help as a victim support officer.

Since then members of the community had been seeking help without the fear of being discriminated against or sidelined.

First centre was set up in Rawalpindi in 2020 to facilitate the marginalised community

Inspector General of Police Punjab Dr Usman Anwar decided to replicate the project across the province following a recent incident in which first transgender news broadcaster Marvia Malik faced life threats and came under an armed attack in Lahore.Following the issue, the IG called a meeting titled “Protection of transgender community’s rights” of police officers, senior doctors of various disciplines including psychiatrists, representatives of the transgender community, activists etc.

After a brainstorming session, the participants decided to replicate the Rawalpindi model to all over the province.

Addressing on the occasion, Dr Usman Anwar said his department has taken some initiatives to protect the rights of the weak and subjugated sections of society, including the transgender community.He said Punjab police Information and Technology DIG Ahsan Younis has been appointed as project head for establishing the cenres.

The centres do not require any additional resources but they will be activated in the already existing offices and a mutual network will be created in these centres with organisations and NGOs working for the transgender community.

Speaking at the event, Professor of Psychology Dr Saad Malik said the members of the transgender community have to face sexist behaviour firstly at their homes, when parents find out about the gender of their child, they consider it a burden and leave them helpless.Prof Saad Malik said such persons deserve special help and attention.

Dr Imran, Dr Ayesha and Mishal Shah from Fountain House and Akhuwat Foundation presented their suggestions for the betterment of the transgender community.ASP Shahr Bano gave a briefing about the programme created by the Punjab police to help the transgender community.

DIG Ahsan Younis talked about the establishment and working of the centre set up in Rawalpindi.

He said the centre had been started three years ago within the women’s police station of Rawalpindi.

Now on the direction of IG, the scope of this project is being extended to all the districts in the province so that the problems of the people associated with this community can be resolved on a priority basis, he said.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2023