Marvia Malik, Pakistan's first transgender news anchor, narrowly escaped a shooting attack on her outside her home in Lahore. The incident occurred on Thursday night while she was returning from a pharmacy, when two gunmen fired without discretion. Fortunately, she survived the attack.
๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐
Malik reported to the police that she had been receiving threatening calls and messages from unidentified numbers because of her advocacy for the transgender community. To protect herself, she has temporarily relocated outside of Lahore and left her home, as per her account to the media outlet.
Malik disclosed that she had undergone surgery and returned to the city a few days ago. She maintained that her advocacy for the transgender community was a "major factor" in the attempt on her life.
๐๐๐น๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐น ๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐น๐ฎ๐
It is noteworthy that the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) claimed last year, according to GeoTV, that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2018 is not in line with Shariah because several of its provisions are inconsistent with Islamic principles. The CII also cautioned that the Transgender Persons Act may cause "new social problems".
The council requested that the government establish a committee to examine the legislation concerning the transgender community. It suggested that the committee should comprise CII members, religious scholars, and professionals in law and medicine.
๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฎ ๐ ๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ธ
In 2018, Malik made history as Pakistan's inaugural transgender news anchor. During an earlier interview with GeoTV, Malik regarded herself as a role model not just for the transgender community but for everyone.
Malik disclosed that her family was unsupportive when she resolved to make a difference in society, but she persisted in pursuing her aspirations. The news anchor deplored that trans individuals have no choice but to beg on the streets when their families abandon them. However, she also asserted that her story promotes peace and raises awareness throughout the nation.
