KARACHI, Dec 22: Girls, as young as three-10 years, were among those killed on the pretext of their being a Kari — a term used for those having illicit relations — during the current year in Sindh province, according to a report prepared by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

The centuries-old customary murders, popularly known as Karo-kari (honour-killing) in Sindh has already claimed more than 382 lives during the year.

According to the report, about 137 men and 245 women were killed either by their relatives, spouses or others in 293 Karo-kari events.

The report reveals that out of 200 accused, arrested for their involvement in honour killing, only eight could be prosecuted and punished.

Referring to statistics, it says that 26 people — 10 men and 16 women — sustained injuries in the Karo-kari-related attacks.

The HRCP regretted that about 70 murderers, who eliminated their relatives were still at large.

According to the commission’s findings, Jacobabad topped the list of Karo-kari victims with 25 men and 66 having been killed while in Ghotki, 13 men and 54 women fell prey to honour killings and in Larkana, 57 men and women were eliminated during the year.

Condemning the barbarism demonstrated by the culprits, the report said that 30 of the women slain under Karo-kari custom, were chopped into pieces and their body parts thrown into Indus River.

Only 10 per cent of the victims, it added, appeared to be guilty of the offence they were accused of while the rest 90 per cent were killed simply to level scores with enemies and rivals in personal disputes.—PPI