HYDERABAD, March 30: The Legal Aid and Human Rights Committee of the Sindh Bar Council will help and provide relief to the people whose fundamental rights are being violated.

This was said by Zia Ahmad Awan, the chairman of the committee, while speaking at a news conference at the press club here on Sunday.

Expressing concern over the dismal situation of human rights in Sindh province, especially in rural areas, Mr Awan called upon lawyers and judges to join hands against injustices being perpetrated against people.

He deplored incidents of domestic violence, physical and sexual abuses, honour killing, kidnapping and torture of children and women had increased in 2002.

Mr Awan said 590 cases of child abuse, 1,179 cases of woman abuse, 898 cases of kidnapping of women and children, 423 cases of Karo-kari killing, 300 cases of missing children, 51 cases of custodial torture and 185 cases of burn injuries were reported in Sindh during the last year. Besides, numerous other cases had gone unreported, he added.

About the fund provided by the Asian Development Bank for the Access to Justice Programme, Mr Awan said it should be properly utilized.