KARACHI, Aug 22: Bomb blasts, karo-kari, honour killing and other such crimes against humanity have claimed as many as 765 lives during the January-July period this year in Sindh , according to a report prepared by an NGO, the Aurat Foundation, which said that a big number of the victims appeared to be women.

The report said that more than 300 women were murdered in different incidents. About 67 people, majority of them women, were killed after being accused of extramarital affair and labelled as karo-kari.

The figures showed that 142 people died in bomb blasts in the province during the period whereas 277 people, 137 of them women, committed suicide owing to unemployment, forced/underage marriages, domestic problems, etc.The report stated that 44 females, including minor girls, were subjected to rape and six of them were murdered after being raped.

It said that 163 women were among the 434 people kidnapped during the seven-month period whereas 149 were held hostages. Six girls and women were sold in Ghotki, Hala, Dadu and other towns, it added.

Regarding custodial deaths, the report said that five people were tortured to death by police who also stripped and severely tortured another nine. The NGO pointed out that despite imposition of a ban by the Sindh High Court on jirga, 30 jirgas were held in Sindh.