'We Don't Have Any Honor Because We Are khwaja sira': Police Violence and Discrimination Against the Khwaja Sira Community in Swat, Pakistan.

This qualitative study investigates police violence and discriminatory policing practices targeting the khwaja sira community, recognized as the third gender in Pakistan, specifically in Mingora, Swat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Through in-depth interviews with 45 khwaja sira individuals, the study identifies pervasive experiences of physical, verbal, sexual, and financial violence by police, alongside police reluctance to file First Information Reports (FIRs) and widespread ethical misconduct. Despite constitutional guarantees and legal recognition of third gender rights, khwaja sira face systemic stigma linked to their gender identity and involvement in sex work, resulting in social exclusion and limited access to justice. The findings highlight the urgent need for gender-sensitive policing, legal support services, anti-stigma interventions, and specialized police units to address abuses and improve the community's safety and legal protections within Pakistan's complex sociopolitical context.