KARACHI, Aug 2: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, expressing concern over the worsening law and order situation and harassment of a large number of contestants in the coming local bodies’ polls, has urged the election commission to take stern steps so that people feel safe and can freely exercise their democratic right.

Speaking at a press conference at the HRCP office, its officials, Iqbal Haider, Asad Butt, Rochiram, Amarnath and Akhtar Baloch, on Tuesday said the election commission should take stern steps and ensure that not only do the contestants freely carryout their election campaigns, but voters also cast their vote without fear.

They said that earlier it was only Karachi that was famous for having no-go areas, but due to the worsening law and order situation and official patronage of its supporters, many no-go areas had been formed in interior Sindh as well where contestants contesting against candidates supported by the ruling party, were being harassed and directed to withdraw.

They said the election commission should also look into the “coincidence” as to how were candidates, contesting from a certain group supported by the ruling party, given the same election symbol all over the province.

They also said that owing to the poor law and order situation, the HRCP had received many reports from its volunteers and other human rights activists that they feared for their safety.

They said the HRCP would hold a meeting in a couple of days in Lahore to discuss the issue and formulate a monitoring strategy.

They said that incidents relating to domestic violence and violence against women were increasing and that the government had failed to check their growing numbers.

Giving statistics of violence, they said that over 1,138 people - including 982 men, 118 women and 38 children – were killed in the city between June 2004 and June 2005.

While over 304 people were raped in the province during the same period.

They said that 883 people had committed suicide in the province between June 2004 and June 2005. The break up included 80 males, 35 females and seven minors in Karachi; and 502 men and 259 women, who committed suicide in interior of the province.

They said that 231 people were kidnapped in the province during the said period where as 438 people including 250 women, 146 men and 42 minors were killed in karo kari-related incidents.