Human rights: Killings and violence decreased by 26%, says HRCP

Report shows that the overall crime rate in the city has reduced as compared to Aug 2015

KARACHI: Killings and violence in Karachi decreased by 26 per cent in September 2015 as compared to August, says a report by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

In September, 126 people died or were killed due to violence in the city while in August, the figure stood at 171. Last year the statistics were much worse. Around 231 people became victims of violence in September 2014.

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Meanwhile this year, the killings have decreased overall. Twenty-three people became victims of targeted killings in September as compared to August's figure of 32.

Last month, 24 dead bodies were found, two policemen were killed and six became victims of the Lyari gang war. Moreover, eight people were abducted and found dead, three political activists were killed while one was killed in sectarian violence.

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Compared to August, the number of people being killed by law enforcement agencies in encounters or in custody also decreased. In August, 56 people died while in September, the number dropped down to 29.

The September figures also show a decline in the number of women and children killed in the city. Six women were killed in September as compared to 12 in August, while nine children were killed in September as compared to nine children in incidents of abduction and killing, and murder due to enmity.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2015.