Honour killings in Sindh rise in second quarter: report
Karachi: The incidents of honour killing in Sindh have increased in the second quarter of 2009 (April – June) as compared to the first quarter. There were some 53 incidents of honour killing (with 64 victims) during January to March while the figure has risen to 79 (116 victims) during April to June.
Representatives of Aurat Foundation, Karachi, revealed these findings while launching the second quarterly report (April-June 2009) on ‘Violence against Women’ at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Tuesday. Under its national programme of ‘Policy and Data Monitor on Violence against Women’ for the elimination of violence against women in Pakistan, the organisation has presented a comparison of first and second quarters of the current year.
According to analysts, the incidents of honour killing rise during summer (May, June and July), pointed out Lala Hassan.
Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister, Sharmila Farooqui, who formally launched the report, expressed her disappointment on the negative tendencies of the police department due to which she said that a great trust deficit had occurred between the police and masses. Referring to the involvement of police officials in a recent rape incident of a three-year-old child, she said that the police had the usual approach although it was an ‘open and shut’ case of crime.
The adviser agreed to the suggestion given by Hassan that instead of suspending the police officials they should be dismissed because merely suspension does not punish them and they are re-posted at some other place very soon.
Earlier, while sharing the statistics from the report, Hina Tabassum said that 416 incidents of violence against women occurred during the second quarter in which 512 (including 38 men murdered on pretext of karo-kari) individuals were victimised in all the 23 districts of the province.
“There were 76 incidents of murder, 79 of honour killings (including 38 men murdered), 34 of abduction and kidnapping, 28 of rape, nine of sexual assault, 57 of suicide, 35 of domestic violence, four of burning and one incident of acid throwing occurred.”
Moreover, 93 incidents of custodial violence, murder attempts, customary practices, attempt to suicide, and threat to violence, trafficking and torture were reported in different parts of the province, she disclosed.
As much as 15 women were given as compensation (Vanni) to settle the tribal conflicts or free will marriage issues in the 27 Jirgas that were held on women related issues during the specified time period.
Hassan pointed out a case of Jirga in which a well-known Jirga holder, who is also a former minister and supporter of honour killing, was booked on the remarks of Chief Justice but got bail before arrest from the High Court within one day.
According to data collected, First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered in 208 cases while 170 cases could not be registered. In 37 incidents, the status of FIR could not be ascertained whether it was registered or not later because in some cases FIRs were registered even after one week or one month it was further revealed in the report.
According to data 39 women/girls were tortured or arrested by the police as in compensation of male accused or under minor allegations and in first quarter 82 women faced such violence by the police. Most of the women were released the next day or the following day.
Source: The News
Date:7/8/2009
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