Violence against women

The first quarterly report of the current year released by a non-government organisation has recorded 162 cases of violence against women in the NWFP. The report was launched at the Peshawar Press Club, showed 56 cases of murder, 51 of honour killing, 12 of suicide, nine of kidnapping and 24 miscellaneous.

Peshawar district topped the crime rate against women with 81 of total cases, followed by Mardan and Charsadda with 16 and 13 cases, respectively. The NGO compiled the report in collaboration with Violence Against Women (VAW) Watch Group titled ‘Violence Against Women’ in NWFP under the project namely Policy and Data Monitor on Violence Against Women.

Presenting the report, authorities informed the media-persons that there were 162 registered cases of violence against women during the first quarter of the current year. “Out of the total 162 cases, there were 56 cases of murder, 51 domestic and 12 were of suicide,” .

About the district-wise data and kind of violence cases, she said that a total of 81 cases were reported in Peshawar, including 13 cases of murder, 33 of domestic violence, one suicide, eight kidnapping and 26 miscellaneous.

In District Mardan 16 cases were reported out of which 10 were of murder, four of domestic violence, two of suicide and two miscellaneous. Similarly, in Nowshera, 13 cases were reported in which four were of murder, five of domestic violence, two suicides and two miscellaneous.

In Charsadda, eight cases were reported of which three each were of murder and domestic violence, one of suicide and one other. In Mansehra, four cases were reported—all of them of murder. Likewise, in Dera Ismail Khan, five cases were reported out of which four were of murder and one miscellaneous.

In Kohat, five cases of violence were reported of which three were of murder, one of domestic violence and one miscellaneous. Four cases were reported in Bannu district amongst them two were of suicide, one of domestic violence and one miscellaneous.

In Haripur two cases were reported—one each of domestic violence and suicide. In Malakand, two cases were reported with one each of murder and domestic violence. In Swat, two cases were reported: both were of murder.

In Chitral two suicide cases were reported, while in Battagram two murder cases, in Lakki Marwat two cases (one of murder and one miscellaneous), in Karak one murder case, in Upper Dir one kidnapping case was reported. Likewise, in Abbottabad one miscellaneous case, in Tank one murder case, while no violence case was reported from Buner Kohistan, Hangu, Shangla and Lower Dir.Nusrat said that in all 162 cases the accused were close relatives, including husband, father, brother, cousin, in-laws or neighbours.

The sources of the information mentioned in the report were newspapers, police headquarters, hospitals and women crisis centres, it is important to mention that these were the reported cases and the list might swell if the un-reported cases were included in it.