Five women murdered daily in Pakistan | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

Five women murdered daily in Pakistan

Karachi, Dec 16: Five women were murdered daily in Pakistan of which more than one woman was killed on the pretext of honor (Karo-Kari) from January till September this year, according to Aurat Foundation.

Regional Coordinator Lala Hassan of Aurat Foundation told PPI on Tuesday that in current year a total of 5627 cases of Violence Against Women (VAW) have been reported from January till September, said Lala Hassan.

He said that the data about VAW cases has been collected on three- month basis by Aurat Foundation. The data of such cases reported during last quarter of the year from October till December would be added to the above mentioned figure of 5627.

Lala said that the total number of cases were divided in 19 categories which are murder, honor killing, attempt to murder, abduction (kidnap), hurt and body injury, domestic violence, suicide, attempted suicide, rape, gang-rape, sexual assault, custodial violence, burning, acid throwing, torture, threat violence, vani, trafficking etc.

Lala said that a total of 1339 cases of VAW were reported from January till March, 1757 cases were reported from April till June and 2531 cases from July to September.

He said that the percentage of abduction (kidnap) cases was highest with 23.75 % amongst all VAW cases. He added that women murder cases stood second highest with 17.42 percent while third highest number of cases were of Hurt and Body Injury with a percentage of 11.44 from January to September.

He said that 1221 cases of women abduction were reported during three quarters of this year. In first quarter 264 women abduction cases were reported, in second quarter 356 cases and in third quarter 601 cases were reported.

As many as 1163 cases of women murder were reported during first nine months of this year. In first quarter 366 women murder cases were reported, in second quarter 356 cases and in third quarter 441 cases were reported.

There were 666 cases of Hurt and Body Injury of women reported. 179 cases were reported during first quarter, 205 cases in second quarter and 282 cases in third quarter.

The suicide cases with 408 incidents touched the fourth highest number of VAW cases with 8.53. A total of 66 suicide cases were reported in first quarter, 126 cases in second quarter and 216 cases in third quarter.

The 82 cases of Attempted suicide were reported in first nine months of the current year.

The 368 cases of ’Honor Killing’ were reported during the three quarters of the current year. The 80 attempt to murder cases were reported from January till September.
The number of domestic violence cases was 258 during the nine months of this year. As many as 342 cases of rape and 200 cases of gang rape were reported.

A total of 122 cases of sexual assault and 74 cases of Custodial Violence were reported.
The number of burning cases was 43 and 17 case of Acid Throwing.The cases of torture 109 while 09 cases of Threat to Violence were reported.

A total of 402 cases fall in the category of Miscellaneous according to the three quarters report, said Lala. He added that 62 cases of Trafficking were reported from January till September. Only one case of Vani was reported.

The report concluded that cases of violence against women are increasing as women are offering resistance to their oppressors and women awareness about their rights is increasing due to media exposure, seminars and other means, Lala said.
Source: The Nation
Date:12/17/2008