Ten people have been arrested by police in Pakistan investigating the flogging of a transgender woman.

The arrests were made in the eastern city of Sialkot after a video of the abuse was posted on social media and shared thousands of times.

Police chief Abid Khan said five of those arrested have been charged with torture and extortion, while the other five are under investigation.

The video purportedly shows a man pinning the woman face down on a bed with his foot and beating her with what appears to be a leather belt.

At one point, he reportedly places his foot on the victim's neck and twists her arms, while another man continues the flogging.

The alleged gang leader, reportedly told Dunya News: "I was punishing him because he didn't refrain from his bad habits."

Supporters of civil rights for transgender people holding a protest in August 2016. Credit: Reuters

Transgender people in Pakistan are considered social outcasts and often live in fear of such attacks.

TransAction, a local transgender rights group, posted an interview with another transgender woman, identified as Jolie, who said she was present when the attack took place.

She said the gang barged into a house, where several transgender women were living, and beat and tortured one of them for several hours.

Jolie also said they shaved the heads of others.

Police official Iqbal Sindhu confirmed Jolie was present at the scene.