Sexual encounters between same-sex partners are more accessible in
Lahore, in particular for gay and bisexual men. As a result of
globalisation, increasing
liberalisation trends and advancing social tolerance, private gay parties in Lahore have been increasing for a number of years. In addition, there is a growing number of individuals—generally from more affluent and educated families—who are
coming out to their friends and introducing them to their same-sex partner. Metropolitan areas like
Lahore and
Karachi have seen many gay men, mostly from the middle and upper classes socializing at queer parties. While there has been a small degree of progress in representation of male homosexuality in society, lesbianism has lesser exposure in the country and publicised events of women indulging in same-sex relationships are rare. One such court case, decided in 2008, displayed the same disapproving attitude towards a lesbian relationship as it would have towards two men involved. In 2016, a 23-year-old activist named Alisha was shot seven times and was taken to Lady Reading Hospital in
Peshawar, where she was left to bleed to death as the staff argued over whether they should take Alisha to the men's ward or women's ward. Alisha's friends reported that the men discrimined against and taunted them, asked if Alisha's blood was "
HIV-positive" and asked for her friend's phone number to invite her to a dance party. Alisha was an avid activist for the transgender community and worked hard all her life to make a living. Alisha's friend Farzana said that transgender people are easily targeted as they are weak and have no social status. Even though the Government has passed laws in favour of transgender people, the locals tend to not accept them and deny them basic education and healthcare. The morning after Alisha's death, an activist group called Trans Action posted a status on Facebook directed to the local authorities saying, "Kill all of us." In November 2017, a transgender woman was gunned down in Peshawar. Initial reports from the police suggest that the perpetrator was closely related to the victim and that it might be an incident of
honour killing. In 2017, in an interview with Manchester Evening News, a 40-year-old woman who used the name Zayna talked about her life as a lesbian Muslim in Pakistan before she moved to the
United Kingdom. She talked about how she had to face major beatings and a lot of discrimination. She was told she cannot be a lesbian if she is a Muslim and was told to leave her university and workplace because of her sexuality. Some
transgender women in Pakistan use hormones and silicone to bring focus on their feminine characteristics; however, this is usually done in terrible medical conditions without proper equipment and supervision, as expensive
sex change surgeries in Pakistan are not done mostly due to lack of education on the topic and the taboos of society. Even though the Pakistani government recognises a third gender on ID cards, many people from the transgender community are hesitant to apply for it as they will not be allowed to enter the holy city of
Mecca in
Saudi Arabia as a transgender person. Extremist Attack in Gujranwala Over Allegations of Homosexuality Overview A disturbing incident unfolded in Mohallah Noor Bawa, Gujranwala, Punjab, where religious extremists and neighbors allegedly attacked the home of Atif Masood Sadiq, accusing him of being homosexual and promoting homosexuality. The attackers demanded that he be punished in accordance with Shariah law. Details of the Incident According to local sources, a group of extremists entered Atif Masood Sadiq’s house, held his family members hostage, and began destroying household belongings. The situation escalated when the attackers set the house on fire, causing severe damage and panic in the neighborhood. Neighbors reportedly joined the mob, demanding that Atif be handed over to them for punishment. Despite the gravity of the situation, no official case has been registered at the local police station so far. Community Reaction The incident has sparked fear and outrage among residents and human rights advocates. Many have condemned the violent actions and called for immediate police intervention and protection for the victims. Activists emphasize that such acts of mob justice violate fundamental human rights and Pakistan’s constitutional protections. Legal and Social Implications This event highlights the growing tension between extremist ideologies and personal freedoms in certain communities. The lack of police response raises serious concerns about law enforcement accountability and the safety of individuals accused of moral or religious transgressions.https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2015/01/pakistani-lgbt-community-fight-rights-150121114323286.html|title=Pakistani LGBT community's fight for rights|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2018-03-05}}
Government stance UNHRC vote The Pakistani Government has always shown resistance towards the issue of
LGBTQ rights and never hid its intolerance. A United Nations vote cast on 25 April 2003 on issues of LGBTQ human rights was derailed at the last minute by an alliance of five disapproving Muslim countries, including Pakistan. The others were
Egypt,
Libya,
Saudi Arabia and
Malaysia.
Politics Political parties, interest groups and other political organisations in Pakistan are required to support Islam and public morality. The small
Green Party has expressed some support for LGBTQ rights, but political groups tend to avoid the issue or express opposition. Transgender people are treated differently, at least on paper, than gay, lesbian and bisexual people. Pakistani citizens who are transgender or a member of the third gender are a recognised minority group and are thus entitled to certain civil rights.
Media Pakistani media strictly censors LGBTQ related news stories. In late 2013, the Government of Pakistan censored the website Queerpk.com from being viewed. When a Chinese court accepted to hear
a case regarding the issue of same-sex marriage, the news story received substantial international coverage. However, in the Pakistani version of the
International New York Times (
Express Tribune), the picture accompanying the article was censored and a blank space was left on the front page of the newspaper.
Daily Times columnist
Farman Nawaz raised several questions about this kind of journalistic approach. In July 2016, a young Pakistani man named Ihsan wrote an article in the UK-based gay e-zine
Gay Star News about his experiences of being gay in Pakistan. He described Pakistani society and laws as hostile towards LGBTQ people. He wrote, "The status of LGBTI people, socially and legally, is at its worst. LGBTI people face prosecution by the state. And the subject is still taboo – considered too disgusting to talk about." His surname was omitted for his security. While national media and state have censored queer discourses, transnational documentaries such as
How Gay is Pakistan?,
Being LGBTQ in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and ''Transgenders: Pakistan's Open Secret'' have been critiqued for their neo-colonial, self-othering, disciplinary, and moralistic narratives. Similar documentaries made on other countries such as Uganda and Turkey have been critiqued for their tourist gaze, inadequate research, sweeping statements, and sensational approaches that create binary between sexually empowered Western countries and sexually backward rest of the world.
HIV/AIDS One of the issues that has opened up public discussion about LGBTQ rights has been the effort to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with other men, but who do not necessarily identify as being gay or bisexual.
UNAIDS official reports suggest that they are targeting night truck drivers who are known for having sex with younger men. The AIDS pandemic first arose in Pakistan in 1987, and government reports estimate (as of 2004) that nearly 3,000 Pakistanis were living with the syndrome, although several critics believe that the Government is underestimating the problem. and possibly as high as 210,000 (as in the UNAIDS Pakistan reports). Where there was no public call for tolerance or acceptance of LGBTQ people, the subject of sexual orientation and gender identity are becoming more openly discussed, especially in light of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. A survey done in 2009 showed that male and transgender
sex workers in Pakistan were at high risk of HIV/AIDS mostly as they had sex with
IDU clients. Because of lack of knowledge and education on this topic, the health of sex workers is at risk. == US Embassy Islamabad incident ==