Marvia Malik, Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor, survived a gun attack on Thursday night outside her residence in the Lahore Cantt area.
Two men opened fire on Malik as she was returning from a pharmacy, according to her statement to the police.
Malik said she had been receiving threatening phone calls and messages from unknown numbers for raising her voice for the transgender community.
She left Lahore and relocated to Islamabad and Multan out of fear for her life. She had returned to Lahore a few days ago for surgery when the attack occurred. Malik said her activism was “a major factor” behind the assassination attempt.
Malik made history in 2018 as the first transgender news anchor in Pakistan. She was a vocal advocate for the rights of the transgender community and often used her platform to raise awareness about their issues.
Despite facing discrimination and harassment, Malik continued to break down barriers and pave the way for other members of the transgender community.
The attack on Malik is a reminder of the violence and discrimination faced by the transgender community in Pakistan. According to a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, transgender individuals face “systemic discrimination and violence” in the country.
They are often denied basic rights such as education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, and are subjected to harassment and violence by both state and non-state actors.
In recent years, there have been some positive developments in terms of legal recognition and protection for transgender individuals in Pakistan.
In 2009, the Supreme Court ruled that transgender individuals have the right to identify themselves as a third gender on official documents.
In 2018, the government issued a national transgender rights policy, which included measures to protect transgender individuals from discrimination and violence.
However, despite these developments, there is still a long way to go in terms of achieving equality and justice for the transgender community in Pakistan.
The attack on Marvia Malik is a stark reminder of the challenges that they continue to face. It is essential for the government and society as a whole to take steps to ensure the safety and protection of transgender individuals and to promote their rights and dignity.