13/06/2025
⚠️ Viewer Discretion Advised:
The image in this post may be disturbing to some viewers. It depicts the tragic loss of a young life and is shared with the utmost respect to raise awareness of the violence faced by the transgender community in khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Another transgender person, Zebi—only 23 years old, originally from Bhera—was shot dead just a few hours ago in Abbottabad while performing at a function. We had spent the night coordinating with authorites,hospital and community. i am specillay grateful to Mr Tariq Javed Sab Commisoner NCHR KP to take notice of it immediatly.
She was the only one supporting her family—bearing the dreams of her younger sister’s education and the smiles of her aging mother. With Zebi, so many dreams died… and the nightmare continues for the transgender community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Years ago, a special committee was formed by the KP Police to look into the violence against transgender persons, to understand the patterns, the causes. But to our deep disappointment, this committee never met. Not even once.
I don’t know how her mother and sister will receive this news.
But I do know what it’s doing to the transgender community: once again, they are shaken.
The police will add this to their case files. The accused was caught at the spot—yes—but we all know how this story ends. The cycle of impunity continues.
For us NGOs, this will become just another number.
For UN another case study.
Just another notice and condemnation for HRIs.
Just another breaking news headline for media.
For many it wont even mean anything.
But trust me when I say this:
The man who pulled the trigger is not the only one who killed Zebi.
The real killer has many names, many faces, and many designations.
Recently I’ve once again been assigned a pro bono role by the provincial government to re-draft the Transgender Protection Policy—a document that has already been written and forgotten multiple times.
This morning, I feel nothing but grief and disappointment.
The transgender community does not need more policies, funds, promises, or never-ending meetings and plans.
They need our shoulders—where they can place their heads and cry.
I apologize for sharing this heartbreaking image.
But I couldn’t say goodbye to Zebi without telling the world what she meant to her family and community.
Goodbye, Zebi.
Goodbye to the dreams you carried for your sister’s future.
Goodbye to the hope you held in your heart, and the joy you tried to bring to your mother’s face.
We failed you.
And I am so, so sorry.
