Six women brutally killed in Karachi in last 48 hours

Six women were murdered in separate incidents in Karachi over the past 48 hours, police said on Saturday, sparking renewed concerns over violence against women in the country.

The bodies of four women were found in an apartment building in the Lea Market area under unclear circumstances.

Police are questioning male relatives, who claim they were not home when the killings occurred on Friday night.

"The women were brutally killed by having their throats slit, and their bodies showed signs of physical assault," Arif Aziz, Senior Superintendent of Police, said. "We are investigating the case, and conclusions will follow once the investigation is complete."

The head of the family, Muhammad Farooq, told reporters his wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter were among the victims.

"We knocked on the door when we returned home. My son used his key to unlock it. We have no enmity with anyone and suspect no one," he said.

In another incident, a man was arrested for fatally stabbing his pregnant wife in Shah Faisal Colony. The suspect, Abdullah, was taken into custody after the incident on Saturday.

"Frequent disputes arose between the couple after their wedding, leading Laiba to stay with her parents," said police officer Abdul Hameed.

Karachi Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed Tariq confirmed the victim was five months pregnant. "She had a single stab wound to the neck," Tariq said, adding autopsies for the four women from the Lea Market incident are ongoing.

A third incident involved a woman brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital with gunshot wounds to the face and head. She was pronounced dead on arrival, according to police.

Domestic violence remains widespread in Pakistan, with many cases going unreported. The Sindh Suhai Sath Organisation recorded 165 women killed in Sindh province in 2023, though the actual number is believed to be higher.

A 2020 report by Aurat Foundation highlighted over 11,000 cases of violence against women across the country that year.

Mehnaz Rehman, a social scientist and former official of Aurat Foundation, called for gender sensitisation in Pakistani society. "We need to explain to our boys, men, and leaders that they should act with gender sensitivity and recognise everyone as equal human beings," she said.

Rehman stressed the importance of addressing violence against women within the context of Pakistan’s societal realities.