In a stark illustration of Pakistan’s worsening transgender crisis, activist Bindiya Rana survived a point-blank shooting ambush at her Karachi residence on January 19. The attack, detailed in a new investigative report, underscores the perilous reality for trans advocates battling systemic violence.

Rana had just opened her door remotely from the kitchen while sharing tea with Gender Alliance Interactive colleague Zehrish Khan Zadi. Gunfire erupted instantly – three shots that missed their mark as perpetrators vanished into the night. ‘Three bullets flew as the door swung open. They ran, and she was spared,’ Khan Zadi told The Guardian.

The duo reported the assault to police the following day. Khan Zadi, a dedicated rights worker, expressed shock: despite years of awareness about trans vulnerabilities, no one anticipated such a direct hit on their safe haven. Her words capture the irony: protectors turned prey.

Recent precedents abound. In September, beggar Nadira rebuffed a suitor at Sea View, declaring herself no sex worker – only to be knifed in the stomach. She clutched her earnings but now battles HIV complications. Shortly after, gunmen executed three trans women nearby.

Data from Gender Alliance reveals 55 trans killings in Sindh since 2022, 17 in Karachi. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sees vigilante expulsions, with trans dancers among 200 detained at a Swabi event. These incidents signal a national emergency, urging international scrutiny and robust protections to safeguard a marginalized group under siege.