KARACHI, Oct 4: At least six persons were killed every day in the third quarter of the current year under the infamous custom of karo-kari in Sindh.

A total of 129 people — 55 female and 31 male — were killed under this custom during the period July-September, said a report, compiled by an NGO, the Aurat Foundation. The report observed that July witnessed the highest number of such killings over the past nine months of the year.

It also suggested that two women were raped and killed during the third quarter and another 23 were reported raped, nine of them gang-raped.

The report said 36 women committed suicide and more than 50 attempted suicide after getting frustrated by poverty, domestic problems, prolonged illness, underage marriage or a marriage against their will.

At least 53 women were kidnapped and another 17 reported missing during the period. A total of 80 couples got married through courts after failing to persuade their parents or close relatives to accept the proposals.

The tribal jirgas continued to be held in violation of the courts’ orders, it observed, pointing out that at least 19 such jirgas were held in the July-Sept quarter alone.

The report claimed that 28 women were physically tortured and 35 were arrested as “compensation” for a male offender.

A father of 15 children committed suicide after killing his wife due to poverty in New Saeedabad (Matiari district).

Over the past nine months of the year, a total of 998 men and 165 women were killed under the karo-kari, said the report.