The first transgender news anchor in Pakistan survived a gunshot after she was attacked outside her home in Lahore on Thursday night. 26-year-old Marvia Malik narrowly escaped assassination while returning from a pharmacy when two assailants opened fire on her.
Malik told the police that she has been receiving threats over phone calls for a while now as she has been voicing for the transgender community in Pakistan. She claimed that her "activism" could be the major reason behind the attack.
Who Is Marvia Malik?
According to the Dawn’s report, Malik had moved out of Lahore fearing for her safety but had returned to stay in the city for a few days for a surgery.
Marvia Malik created history in 2018 by becoming the first transgender news anchor in the Islamic Republic. She worked with the Pakistan-based Kahenoor News but revealed that it was not an easy road to reach where she was now.
Like most trans people, Malik also didn’t get any support from her family. "I did some menial jobs to pay for my education. "I'd always wanted to be a news anchor, and being chosen was a dream come true," she told the American broadcaster Voice of America over the phone.
She hopes to change the perception of the transgender community through her work. "If given a chance, transgender people are equally competent at achieving everything," she told the news agency Associated Press in a previous interview. "Our degrees are of no use. We get rejected even if we seek jobs due to our gender identity. I wish and hope to change that mindset," she said.
In an interview with Geo TV in 2018, Malik deemed herself an example for everyone, not just the transgender community of Pakistan. She spoke about how, when transgender people are kicked out of their homes by their families, they have no other option but to beg. She went on to say that she is an example in the country that sends a message of peace and awareness.
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