91 Karo Kari cases registered in first three months of 2005: HRCP | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

91 Karo Kari cases registered in first three months of 2005: HRCP

LAHORE, May 03,2005: According to the monthly reports of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), a total of 91 karo-kari cases were registered in the rural areas of the country during the first three months of 2005. These killings in the name of honour were reported by HRCP correspondents and newspapers from January to March 2005.

The accused, in most cases, are close relatives like husband, son, father, father-in-law, uncle or cousin.

In most cases, the victims’ ages ranged between 20 and 30 years. A large number of the karo-kari cases were reported from Sindh and Balochistan. Only a few cases were reported from NWFP and Punjab. Of the 91 karo-kari cases, 27 cases were registered in January 2005. Twenty-three people, including 16 women, were killed and four people, including a woman, were injured. Eighteen victims were married. Nineteen cases were from Sindh, five from Balochistan and three from NWFP. Two victims were above the age of 40. Only 13 accused have been arrested so far.

In February 2005, 57 karo-kari cases were registered in Sindh and Southern Punjab. In these 57 cases, 31 people including 22 women were killed and 26 people including two women were injured. Nineteen victims were married.

In March 2005, only seven karo-kari cases were reported to HRCP, in which six women and a man were killed. No one was reported injured. All victims were from Sindh. All the victims were married and were around 30 years old. Only two accused were arrested.

Sexual abuse: Twenty-three cases of sexual abuse were reported in different parts of the country, especially Punjab and Sindh, between January-March 2005. Out of the 23 cases, 12 involved children and 13 girls.

Out of the 23 cases, five cases, out of which four involved girls, were reported in January 2005, 14 cases, out of which seven involved girls, were reported in February 2005 and four cases, out of which two involved girls, were reported in March 2005. The Majority of the victims were teenagers or children between the ages of six to 10. The accused were not arrested despite the registration of first information report (FIR). In most cases, the victims were relatives, friends and students.

Source: Daily Times
Date:5/3/2005