Sindh Moorat March: Pakistan Trans Community's First Ever Rights Protest

The Trans community in Pakistan has often been ridiculed for their identity and suppressed, sometimes even brutally exploited or murdered for carrying out their professional commitments like performing and dancing at marriages. While the community has long been suffering at the hands of the social system, its members have fought a long battle to be recognised and treated as rightful citizens. In what can be called the most significant event in the country this year, the transgender community got together to stage a protest in support of their rights last weekend in the city of Karachi.

In a historic event recently, the transgender community carried out its first-ever rights protest on a huge scale in Pakistan. Referred to as the Khwaja Sira community, they came together and took centre stage to celebrate themselves and demand their rightful place in the country which has stigmatised and excluded them for decades.

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Sindh Moorat March Pakistan

November 20 was not just another day in Pakistan. It marked the beginning of a movement that was a long time coming. Members of the country's Khwaja Sira, an indigenous community of trans, gender non-conforming individuals and non-binary individuals organised a march in Pakistan where they voiced the need to be respected, seen, heard and recognised in all their beings.

The community gathered in the city of Karachi, celebrated while singing and dancing and gave speeches on how they need to be protected against hate and discrimination. Demanding to be treated equally, the representative speakers of the community highlighted how people must get over the grave misconception that being trans is a Western idea that is imposed on smaller countries and that the trans community has always existed in the country but never recognised and always suppressed.

Dating back to the Mughal era ranging from the 16th to 19th centuries, the community has always been held in high regard where they were respected and also held positions of power in the administration. However, as decades passed by, the social normal started excluding the community and belittling them as just individuals who could never earn an equal place in society. The Khwaja Sira aims to address the deep-rooted issues behind the notion and more.

More than 50 trans women have been killed due to hate crime

The protestors participated in thousands of numbers at the March which was organised by the Alliance (GIA). This was a long time coming because the community has been at the receiving end of hate crimes, according to the reports. One of the protestors, Arma Khan, a 25-year-old individual told the media that it's about time people in the country face facts about the brutal killings that have happened on the highest of hate. The community has faced growing violence in the past few years, and as reported, over 90 trans women have been murdered since 2015. The numbers are scary and surface more than what usually is covered by news agencies.

"It's about time we are treated equally, with respect. However, I also believe that this must start with our families. Families need to start supporting their children, regardless of what gender they identify with," said Khan during the protest.

One of the organisers at the protest, Hina Baloch, made a powerful ending statement saying: "For decades now, we have been denied our basic rights. And now, whatever rights we have are also being snatched from us due to the hate against us. To top it, a media trial has been running in Pakistan against us, which results in more violence. This needs to stop now."