KARACHI, Aug 2: At least 44 women and 158 men were killed last month in different parts of Sindh while 24 persons, including 13 women, were killed on the pretext of karo-kari and five were injured, according to a report compiled by the Aurat Foundation, an NGO.

The report says July remained the bloodiest of the last seven months of the current year, in which the highest ratio of killings of both men and women was recorded.

According to the report, two women were raped and murdered last month, while 10 women were raped; five being victims of gang-rape. Besides, attempts of rape were made on six women. The report says 11 women committed suicide and 17 attempted suicide because of poverty, domestic problems, marriages against their will and underage marriages, illness, etc.

At least eight women were kidnapped and six others went missing while 31 couples got married through courts after failing to get permission from parents or close relatives.

The illegal Jirgas continued to be held, yet July showed the lowest ratio of such activity. Only four Jirgas were held over issues involving women, including one held in Daulatpur (Nawabshah), where the perpetrator in a gang-rape was fined Rs120,000.

In July four women were physically tortured and 23 women were arrested by the police on different charges or as compensation for the male accused.

A father of 15 children committed suicide after killing his wife due to poverty in New Saeedabad (District Matiari) and the accused in the Safia Qureshi murder case, the brother of an MNA from Dadu, was released by the court after the family succeeded in a settlement with her relatives.

During the last seven months, a total of 704 men were killed while 198, including 123 women, were killed for karo-kari, says the report.