KARACHI: The number of people killed in police encounters in the city has shown an increase of over 64 per cent in the first six months of the current year as compared to the same period during the last year, says a report released on Tuesday.

The report comprises comparison of the data relating to the first six months –– January to June –– of 2014 and the same period of 2015 and is prepared by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. The report says that while 191 people were killed in police encounters in 2014, the number of those killed in police encounters jumped to 255 during the same period in 2015.

The report, however, says that the overall number of those killed in the first six months of last year was 1,558 and the number of those killed during the corresponding period this year was 1,040 –– a drop of over 34 per cent.

There has been a drastic drop in the number of targeted killing of non-political people. While 403 such people were killed last year, the number of such people killed during the current year was 128 –– a drop of around 68pc.

The report says that 79 political activists were killed last year while the number of those killed during the current year was 33, 58pc less than those killed last year.

The number of dead bodies found this year also dropped by over 46pc as compared to that of last year, when 201 bodies were found, while 109 bodies were found during the current year.

The report says that last year 75 policemen were killed while 52 policemen were killed during the current year. Similarly, eight soldiers/ paramilitary personnel were killed last year while the number of those killed during the current year dropped to four.

The report also shows a drop in crime against women and children during the current year as compared to last year. Last year 13 children were killed in bomb blasts while this year three have been killed in such incidents. Similarly, the number of children killed by stray bullets last year was 13 while the number of such children killed during the current year was three –– a drop of 76pc. The report shows that the total number of children killed last year was 55 while those killed during the current year was 18 –– a drop of over 67pc.

Similarly, the number of women killed has also dropped by around 50pc during the current year as compared to last year’s figures. Last year 97 women were killed against 48 women killed during the current year.

The report says that 33 women were killed by their relatives last year while the number of such women victims during the current year dropped to 17 –– a drop of 48pc. Similarly, the number of women killed by unidentified people last year was 37 whereas 25 women fell victim in this category this year–– a drop of around 32pc.

The report says that 21 men were killed by stray bullets last year while this year 14 men were killed in that manner –– a drop of roughly 33pc. The number of men killed on railway tracks showed a rise of 125pc this year as compared to last year. The data shows that last year eight men were killed on railway tracks while the number of men killed on railway tracks this year was 18.

The report also shows a rise of around 43pc in deaths owing to drug overdose/ consumption of toxic liquor. The data shows that last year 16 men were killed owing to drug overdose/ consumption of toxic liquor while the number of such deaths during the current year stood at 23.

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play