Transgender Woman Brutally Murdered in Peshawar: Minority Group Raises Alarm Over Escalating Violence in Pakistan
Peshawar, July 16, 2025 — A leading minority rights organisation, Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM), has raised serious concerns over the alarming surge in violence against the transgender community in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, after a transgender woman named Taj Muhammad, known as ‘Asady’, was brutally murdered in her apartment in Peshawar on July 8.
The tragic killing occurred in the Tehkal area of Peshawar, where 32-year-old Asady was shot multiple times in the upper body and head, according to a statement released by VOPM. The organisation described the murder as "a soul extinguished by senseless violence", and part of a disturbing trend of targeted killings against transgender individuals in the region.
Pattern of Violence: 8 Transgender Individuals Killed in 2025
The VOPM report reveals a grim tally: eight transgender people have been murdered in KP in 2025 alone, with the death toll rising to 158 since 2009. Over 1,800 cases of violence against the transgender community have been recorded during the same period.
“These are not just numbers; they represent lives — individuals who deserve dignity, respect, and protection,” the VOPM emphasised in its statement.
The group added that each act of violence is a reminder of the “perilous existence” the community endures, living in fear and uncertainty.
Investigation Launched, But Doubts Persist
Following the murder, police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on the same day, with Bahadur Khan, Asady’s brother, named as the complainant. The post-mortem was completed, and the body was handed over to the family.
Despite the registration of the FIR and the ongoing investigation, the motive remains unclear, and the transgender community continues to live under a cloud of fear, VOPM said.
More Victims, More Unanswered Questions
Just a week before Asady’s death, another transgender woman, Titli, was killed in Peshawar’s Gulbahar area. While the police claimed a quick resolution, Arzoo Khan, Executive Director of Manzil Foundation and Provincial President for Transgenders in KP, disputed the police narrative, stating that the main suspects remain at large.
“Police are only arresting friends and family members of the accused. They are avoiding the real culprits just to maintain a clean image,” she alleged.
This apparent failure of justice has deepened mistrust within the transgender community, which feels justice is often delayed — or denied altogether.
A String of Killings Across KP
The list of victims is growing. In May, a transgender person named Shahab alias 'Wafa' was shot in the head while returning from a wedding in Dargai, Malakand. In June, ‘Zaibi’ was killed during a wedding event in Abbottabad. Both incidents, like Asady's, highlight the ongoing and targeted nature of these attacks.
VOPM calls these killings part of a “growing epidemic of hate and intolerance”, asserting that they are not isolated cases but part of a broader systemic issue of discrimination.
Living on the Edge: Double Marginalisation of the Trans Community
According to the VOPM, transgender individuals in KP face a double-edged sword: marginalised socially, with limited access to education, employment, healthcare, and simultaneously targeted for physical violence and killings.
“They are treated as outcasts, pushed to the fringes of society, and forced to live in constant fear,” the VOPM added.
Demand for Urgent Action
The group is calling on the Pakistani government, especially law enforcement agencies and human rights commissions, to take immediate and concrete measures to protect the transgender community.
“The cries for help are louder than ever. The state must act now — not just with justice, but with safety and policy-level change,” the statement concluded.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The repeated killings of transgender individuals like Asady, Titli, Zaibi, and Wafa in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are not merely crimes — they are reflections of deep-rooted prejudice and systemic neglect. The state’s failure to address these atrocities not only denies justice but normalizes violence. It is time for the Pakistani government and civil society to recognise the humanity, dignity, and rights of transgender individuals — before more lives are lost to silence.