Posters seeking beheading of transgenders appear in Pakistan

Karachi: Controversial posters supporting beheading of transgenders have been put up in Pakistan's financial capital Karachi's busiest commercial and shopping areas, prompting the police to sound an alert to ward off any trouble.

The posters highlighting the growing extremism and intolerance in the country have come up near and inside shopping malls, causing anxiety and fear among many transgenders who frequent the area and ask for alms.

A senior police officer said they have sounded an alert in the area to watch out those behind this campaign.

"We are keeping a close watch and any transgender can come and lodge a complaint with us as these posters endanger their lives," he said.

A security guard at a shopping mall said since the posters came up, there has been a significant decline in the number of transgenders in the area.

Another police official said the posters could be the work of some shop owners as they considered these transgenders as a nuisance for their business.

A shop owner supported the posters, saying transgenders were in-fact men disguising themselves as women. "They touch women, hold their arms and beg for money, which should not be allowed at all," he said.