Targeted killings claimed 260 lives in six months: HRCP
KARACHI: The Sindh chapter of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed deep concern over what it described as a sharp increase in targeted killings in Karachi.
Statistics compiled by the Karachi office of the HRCP show that 260 targeted killings were reported during the first six months of the year while 156 people lost their lives in targeted attacks during the corresponding period of last year.
“This astounding surge in the number of killings of workers of political parties and groups is a measure of increasing hostility in the political domain and disarray in the maintenance of law and order,” the HRCP stated in a report issued on Friday.
The HRCP urged the provincial and federal governments to take serious notice of the law and order situation prevailing in Karachi, which has become alarmingly perilous and the common people feel insecure.
According to the HRCP report, overall 889 murders – including 99 of women and 39 of children – were recorded during the six months of this year and 884 –including 113 of women and 84 of children – were reported during the first six months of 2009.
Citizens who died in road accidents are not included in this list.
Name of parties or groups and the number of their activists assassinated during the first six months of 2009: Mohajir Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi 38; Muttahida Qaumi Movement 28; Pakistan People’s Party 11; Awami National Party 10; Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party 4; Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz 2; Jamaat-i-Islami 2; PML-Functional 1; Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz 1; Punjabi-Pakhtun Ittehad 1; and Tehreek-i-Taliban (banned) 2.
Five people were killed on sectarian grounds and 51 people, who were not associated with any political party, lost their lives in targeted attacks.
Name of parties or groups and the number of their activists murdered during the first six months of this year: MQM-H 34; MQM 22; PPP 11; PPP-S 2; Punjabi Front 1; ANP 16; Sunni Tehreek 4; PML-N 1; PML-Quaid-i-Azam 1; PML-F 1; JI 3; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam 2; JSQM 2; PPI 1; Sipah-i-Sahaba (banned) 3; and Tehreek-i-Taliban (banned) 1.
Sixteen people were killed on sectarian grounds. Targeted attacks also claimed 139 lives of those who were not associated with any political party.
The HRCP report said that 98 people were murdered over personal dispute last year while 113 killings were reported this year due to personal enmity.
The gang warfare in Lyari claimed 18 lives last year and 40 this year.
Twenty-five policemen were killed during the six months of last year, while 32 policemen were gunned down this year.
In bomb blasts, 27 persons were killed this year and three people between January and June 2009.
Stray bullets claimed 19 lives this year as compared to 13 last year. Overdose of drugs caused 12 deaths this year and nine last year.
Five people were killed by police torture this year, while six people died in police custody last year. Four persons died in jails this year while nine prisoners died last year.
Due to the “negligence of different government departments”, five people died this year and eight last year.
Six security guards were killed in different incidents this year and four were murdered last year.
Eight persons who married of their own freewill were killed by their relatives this year. One person was killed on the same grounds last year.
The practice of karo kari claimed lives of three people this year and two last year.
Forty-two women were murdered this year and an equal number of women were killed during the six months of last year. All these killings were carried out by unidentified persons.
Twenty-eight women were killed by their relatives this year and 38 were murdered last year.
Bomb blasts claimed lives of 14 women this year and one last year.
Nine women died due to burns injuries this year. Twenty-three women succumbed to their burn wounds last year.
Armed robberies claimed lives of two women this year and five last year.
In Lyari gang warfare, one woman was killed this year.
Two women were murdered this year and an equal number of women were killed during the six months of last year in the name of honour.
Source: Dawn
Date:7/10/2010
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