MARDAN: The Mardan District Police Officer (DPO)’s order to evict members of the transgender community from their houses has been blocked by the Peshawar High Court (PHC).
Gul Rahman Mohmand, representing the transgender community, filed a petition requesting the court to direct the DPO to rescind orders to evict transgender persons if they participate in events. The case was heard by Justice Ikramullah Khan and Justice Ghazanfar Ali on Thursday.
“The transgender persons were first evicted from Swat,” said the petitioner. “If they are moved again, where will they go?”
Justice Ikramhullah noticed that the community has frequently been targeted by a specific group. “They were killing them [transgender] as well,” he said during the hearing.
He also directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa home secretary to solve the problem, arguing that it was his responsibility to do so in addition to the DPO.
The police department has never protected their rights even though they are guaranteed in the constitution, says the petition. They argue that their community has deliberately been targeted by accusing them of vulgarity.
The hearing has been adjourned until March 1.
