Father arrested over murder of 19-year-old transgender daughter found with multiple gunshot wounds
Teenager’s bullet-riddled body discovered on river bank
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man in Pakistan has been arrested after his transgender daughter was murdered.
Maya, a 19-year-old transgender woman from the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, had left home and was living with friends in the city of Peshawar.
Her family attempted to bring her home on Saturday.
Maya’s friends, concerned for her safety, contacted the police.
But the officers allowed family members to take Maya home to the city of Nowshera.
Officer Azmat Khan said Aurangzeb Akbar, the teenager’s father, provided the police with a written assurance that he would not harm his child.
Maya’s bullet-ridden body was discovered just hours later, on Saturday night, beside a river bank in Nowshera.
The transgender community in the city have staged protests in the wake of her death.
Police officers are also reportedly searching for Maya’s uncle and brothers, according to Pakistan’s Samaa TV.
In Pakistan’s conservative society, transgender people can be subjected to abuse and sometimes so-called “honour killings” by their families.
In May 2018 the country’s parliament passed a law guaranteeing the community basic rights, but discrimination remains prevalent.
Many transgender people in Pakistan struggle to find jobs and have been attacked, murdered and raped.
Some are forced to work as sex workers, dancers or beggars.
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) act was passed by a majority in the National Assembly in Islamabad to combat such treatment.
The law bans discrimination against transgender people by employers and business owners as well as outlawing harassment in public places or at home.
It also allows transgender people to self-identify as male, female or a “third sex” on official documents, such as passports or driver’s licenses.
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments