Four people, including a train driver, have been detained by Pakistan Railways Police after an inquiry into a viral video showing two transgender persons riding inside the engine of the Shalimar Express. The detained men are train driver Imtiaz and assistant driver Saqlain Haider. The two transgender persons were named as Ali Ahmed, also known as Hania, and Muhammad Ali, also known as Ali Jan.
Pakistan Railways said a case has been filed against all four for breaching railway rules and allegedly putting passengers at risk.
Overnight journey from Sahiwal to Raiwind
According to the FIR, the incident occurred overnight between November 4 and 5 on the Shalimar Express, which runs from Sahiwal to Lahore. The two transgender persons allegedly rode in locomotive No. 9016 from Sahiwal to Raiwind. The FIR states that Hania sat in the assistant driver’s seat, while Ali Jan filmed the journey.
The footage was later posted on social media, where it spread widely, prompting Pakistan Railways to launch an investigation.
Railway denial contradicted by investigation findings
Railway Police sources said the case was registered once the probe was complete. The charges cover breaches of railway policies, endangering passengers and damaging the reputation of the department.
On November 10, Pakistan Railways had described the video as fake and said it was an attempt to win social media views. However, the subsequent investigation established that the two transgender persons had in fact travelled inside the locomotive, which contradicted the railway spokesperson’s earlier statement.
All four suspects have been arrested as part of the action taken following the investigation.
