March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

KARACHI, March 7: Forty-six women were killed in the first two months of this year, says a report released on the eve of the International Women’s Day, which is being celebrated on Saturday.

Seventeen of them fell prey to the brutal custom of karo kari, says the report about violence against women prepared by Aurat Foundation.

The report says that 13 women were raped while three others were gang-raped. Eleven women committed suicide while 17 others who attempted were saved. Domestic violence was committed against 20 women, two women were sold and 17 women suffered custodial violence since the year’s beginning.

The report highlights certain cases including that of an orphan girl, Ajeeba, who was forced by an influential person to marry a disabled person to settle a dispute in Kashmore on Feb 4, 2008.

A young woman was allegedly gang-raped by Dadu police on Jan 29. She managed to escape from the police quarters but was caught by the police from the city centre in unconscious condition. Police announced that she was a suicide bomber so people did not intervene. She, however, was released after assurances that no complaint would be made against the police.

Pariwash, Maheen, Yasmeen and Aneela were allegedly burnt to death by their families in Larkana, Tando Allahyar, Naushehro Feroz and Hyderabad.

To highlight the issues being faced by women and find out possible solutions to address their grievances, various programmes have been chalked out to observe the Women’s Day.

A procession will be taken out from Regal Chowk by the Labour Education Foundation in collaboration with Sangi Development Foundation and Homenet Pakistan on Saturday at 2pm. The demonstrators will march to the Press Club.

A cultural evening comprising a stage play, songs, tableau and cultural show is being organised jointly by the Actionaid Pakistan, the CIDA and LEF at the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs at 3pm.