837 cases of violence against women reported from Jan to Jun

The data gathered by Hari Welfare Association, a representative body of peasants, shows that 837 cases of violence and abuse reported in Sindh's Urdu and Sindhi newspapers from January to June 2024 shows significant discrepancies in the distribution of incidents across 30 districts of Sindh.

Of the total 837, at least 174 cases fall under suicide (suspected murder largely in Mirpurkhas division), 140 kidnappings, 125 cases of rape, 118 cases of women being murdered, 68 reported cases of domestic violence, 63 cases of honour killing (largely in Larkana and Sukkur divisions), 13 cases of forced marriages (largely in Larkan and Sukkur divisions), six cases of child marriages, and three cases of acid throwing only Karachi division.

Of the total reported cases of violence and abuse, 127 were related to harassment in the agriculture sector, threats by family members on marrying the person of their choice, and exploitation by contractors and landlords.

The district with the highest number of reported violence and abuse cases is Khairpur, with a total of 77 incidents. Following Khairpur, Dadu and Sanghar also report substantial numbers, with 64 and 60 cases respectively. Larkana, with 53 cases, and Karachi, with 45 cases, also feature prominently. Districts like Ghotki (40 cases), Hyderabad (33 cases), and Mirpurkhas (38 cases), Nusheroferoz (42 cases), Sukkur (33 cases), and Tando Allahyar (29 cases) fall into mid-range category. On the other end of the spectrum, Sajawal and Thatta 10 cases each; and Qambar Shahdadkot and TMK (Tando Muhammad Khan) report 20 cases each, while Kashmore and Matiari report 21 cases each; Shikarpur, with 23 cases, also falls into the lower range.

HWA President Akram Ali Khaskheli said that these cases reveal that enforcement of laws on women protection is largely missing across the province but its absence is felt in its Sukkur and Larkana divisions. It said that acid throwing cases are urban phenomenon but honour killing and kidnapping have become prominent rural feature; whereas, suicide cases (including suspected murder cases) were key violence issues in Mirpur Khas division. HWA noticed that various cases of women abuse and exploitation were reported against the police, and also the police did not take women's and girls issues seriously. The statement also said that reporting of abuse and violence cases with women and girls in rural areas is largely absent because the media's no access to these areas and also victims' no access to media and other protection and redressal mechanisms. It lamented that police's role has remained exploited and abuser rather than protector.