Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa police have decided to establish dedicated help desks for transgender people at police facilitation centres across the province, aiming to provide a direct platform for complaints and assistance.

Mardan Deputy Inspector General Qasim Ali Khan said addressing the concerns of transgender people is among the police’s priorities, alongside providing facilities for women, elderly citizens, and persons with disabilities.

The initiative comes amid concerns over violence and discrimination faced by the transgender community in K-P. The Peshawar High Court recently directed police not to harass transgender people while seeking responses from relevant authorities over allegations of illegal evictions and harassment.

Charsadda District Police Officer Rifatullah Khan said the first dedicated transgender desk was being established there and that violence against members of the community would not be tolerated. He added that the desk would help address complaints and provide assistance.

Transgender representatives welcomed the initiative, saying dedicated police facilities could help improve access to justice and ensure greater dignity when reporting grievances.

According to the K-P Transgender Association, around 170 transgender people have been killed in the province since 2015, alongside more than 700 reported incidents of violence during the same period.