No evidence, no case: Lahore Court acquits transgender persons in party raid

WEB DESK: A Lahore magistrate has dismissed a controversial case against several transgender persons arrested earlier this week for allegedly organising an “objectionable” party. The court’s ruling, issued on Sunday, was clear that there was no evidence linking the accused to any crime.

The written order, available with Dawn.com, stated: “No incriminating material is available on record which connects the accused persons with the commission of alleged offences.” It further rejected the police request for a 10-day remand, stressing that no private witnesses were brought forward during the raid, nor were any statements recorded. The order also highlighted that the raid lacked official approval and appeared to be based on “forged and concocted facts.”

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Lawyer Haider Butt, who represented the accused, confirmed their release and the discharge of the case.

Punjab police on Saturday had arrested several transgender individuals in Lahore for allegedly organising an “objectionable” private party to promote “obscenity.” According to the FIR, the arrests were ordered by the Punjab government after videos of the gathering, said to involve 50–60 people including transgender persons, went viral on social media. The footage, dated August 1, was first shared by fashion designer Maria B, who urged authorities to act against “transgender activists,” claiming the event was against the country’s moral values. The arrests have sparked criticism from rights groups over the targeting of marginalised communities under vague obscenity laws.

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Police officials at the time justified the arrests as a crackdown on “promoting obscenity.” DIG Lahore Faisal Kamran also linked the incident to broader cultural enforcement, citing the blocking of the film Joyland, which features a transgender storyline.

However, rights activists strongly criticised the arrests, calling them an example of morality laws being weaponised against marginalised communities. Transgender activist Nayyab Ali said those in the video were not activists, adding that Maria B’s decision to broadcast the clips was itself “a crime.”

Despite the court’s dismissal, Punjab authorities have vowed to intensify their drive against so-called “immoral activities,” raising fears of further harassment of already marginalised communities.