Lahore court drops case against transgender persons accused of hosting ‘objectionable’ party

A local court in Lahore has dismissed the case against transgender persons who were arrested for allegedly hosting an ‘objectionable’ private party earlier this month.

The arrests were made after videos of the gathering went viral on social media, prompting backlash and a police crackdown. An FIR had been registered against several transgender individuals, but they were discharged from the case on Sunday.

In its order, the court stated that no evidence had been presented to connect the accused with the alleged offences. It further noted that the 10-day physical remand sought by police was rejected and the accused produced before the court were acquitted.

The ruling highlighted major procedural flaws, pointing out that no private witness was called during the raid, no statements were recorded, and no official authorisation for the raid was attached to the record. 

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The court observed that the case appeared to be based on false and fabricated information.

Earlier, Punjab Police had booked the accused under Sections 292 (sale of obscene material), 292-A (publication/advertisement of obscene material), and 294 (obscene acts in public places) of the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as under Section 6 of the Punjab Sound Systems Act. The case was registered at Lahore’s Naseerabad police station on the government’s complaint.

The FIR alleged that 50 to 60 people, including transgender persons, were present at the party. 

A video, which surfaced on August 15, was first shared by fashion designer Maria B, who criticised the event as being against the country’s moral values and called for action.

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Following the arrests, DIG (Operations) Lahore Faisal Kamran had said that spreading obscenity under the guise of parties or photoshoots was a serious legal offence and warned that such activities would not be tolerated.

A scheduled screening of the film Joyland was banned by authorities in Lahore, two years after its original release. The decision came amid backlash and complaints that the film promotes homosexuality.