Sindh tops list of political violence

Sindh topped the list of political violence from December 2010 to February 2011 with 90 incidents out of total 240 followed by Balochistan with 78 incidents, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 45, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 18, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) 18, three in Punjab and one in Islamabad.
In 240 recorded incidents of political violence 454 persons were killed, 692 injured and 123 kidnapped, while number of affectees (dead, injured and kidnapped) dropped down from 1966 in the previous quarter (September - November 2010) to 1158, said a report issued by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). FAFEN's Governance Monitors collected the figures regarding the political violence.
As compared to the pervious quarter, a decrease of 33 percent was seen in incidents of political violence, while the crime increased by 10 percent in KP, the report stated, adding that number of incidents increased from 71 recorded during December 2010 to 87 in January 2011, while a slight decline was reported in February with 82 incidents.
According to monthly breakup out of total 71 reported incidents in December 2010 25 were reported in Sindh, 24 in Balochistan, 12 in KP, ten in FATA and no incident was reported in Punjab, GB and Islamabad. Out of 87 reported incidents of political violence in January 201135 were reported in Sindh, 23 in Balochistan, 17 in KPK, six in FATA, four in GB and one each in Punjab and Islamabad. Total 82 incidents of political violence were reported in February out of which 31 were reported in Balochistan, 30 in Sindh, 16 in KPK, two each in FATA and Punjab one in GB and none in Islamabad.
As a result of frequent incidents of target killings in Karachi, Sindh experienced the highest number of incidents of political violence, while KP remained the most violent as 169 out of a total 454 deaths were reported in the region. Target killings were observed to be the most common form of political violence, being reported in 48 incidents (20 percent of total recorded incidents) countrywide. Most cases of target killings (65 percent) were reported in Sindh (all in Karachi provincial capital), followed by Balochistan (31 percent). One incident each of target killing was reported in KPK and FATA.
Target killings of people with political affiliations are categorised as violence against political party workers. Cases of target killings reduced by 57 percent and 48 percent in Sindh and Balochistan, respectively, as compared to reports made in the previous quarter (September-November 2010). Target killings were also reported in KP and FATA, unlike the previous quarter, when no cases had been observed in the two regions.
The nation-wide lethality rate was recorded at two, highest lethality rate of nine was observed in FATA, followed by five in both Punjab and KP, and one in Balochistan, Sindh and the ICT each, the report revealed. Attacks on security forces and violence against political party workers remained second and third most frequently reported categories of violence, respectively, said the FAFEN report.
The state security forces were attacked in 46 incidents nation-wide, while political party workers were targeted in 43 incidents. Security forces were targeted in 19 incidents in KP, 14 in Balochistan, six in FATA, five in Sindh and one each in GB and Punjab. Political party workers were attacked in 36 incidents in Sindh four in Balochistan two in KP and one in GB. Incidents of both the categories increased by 18 percent (attacks on state security forces) and 13 percent (attacks on political party workers/individuals with exposed political affiliations) compared to the previous quarter.
A total of 21 incidents of attacks on state infrastructure were observed 13 of which occurred in Balochistan four in KP, three in Sindh and one in FATA. Twenty incidents of terrorism aimed at common people were also reported out of which six each occurred in KPK, Balochistan and Sindh and two in FATA.
The key term for all incidents recorded as political violence is that they are 'politically motivated' like attacks on entertainment or recreation centres, such as video centres and gymnasiums, because they are militant ideological and political statement.
The report also observed that militants were responsible for 60 incidents (25 percent) out of 240, reported in December 2010 - February 2011 quarter. The community members were perpetrators in one incident of political violence (in Sindh). Similarly, tribal/village leaders, political party workers/candidates and state security forces each were identified as perpetrators in two incidents of political violence, while culprits of 173 incidents of violence could not be identified.
This imposes a serious responsibility on the law and order implementing agencies, since identification of perpetrators of violence is the first crucial step towards serving justice, and in implementing measures to curtail such incidents in future. Several weapons and methods were used in carrying out the 240 incidents of violence. Gunfire/firearm was used most frequently, being employed in 144 (60 percent) of the 240 incidents, the report observed, adding that this was followed by the use of incendiary devices, as 71 incidents (30 per cent) out of 240 were executed in this manner. Suicide bombing was the third most common method, employed in 10 incidents nation-wide.
During the observation period no incident of electoral violence was recorded throughout the country, although one by-election for Provincial Assembly seat of KP (PK-87 Shangla) was held during the reporting quarter. During the reporting quarter, a total of 21 incidents of attacks against state infrastructure were recorded nationwide out of which 13 were reported in Balochistan, four in KP, three in Sindh and one in FATA. Such attacks increased from four in the previous quarter to 21 in the reporting quarter. Twenty incidents of political violence were reported of which six each took place in Sindh, Balochistan and KPK and two in FATA. Such attacks decreased by around 17% as compared to the previous quarter.
During the reporting period (December 2010-February 2011), out of the 240 incidents of political violence, 187 (78%) involved entirely human victims. In 42 incidents (18%), damage to property was reported while in eight incidents (3%), damage involved both human and property. In three incidents (1%) the victims could not be identified.
Sindh experienced approximately 37% of the total incidents of violence reported across the country. Of the 90 incidents, as many as 84 incidents of political violence in Sindh involved human victims. These were the highest number of such incidents during the December 2010-February 2011 period followed by 51 in Balochistan, 34 in KPK, 12 in FATA, three in GB and two in Punjab.
The highest number of incidents (22), where property damage was reported, was from Balochistan followed by eight in KP, five each in Sindh and FATA and two in GB. In eight incidents, damage to both human and property was reported. Most (3) such incidents occurred in KP, two in Balochistan, and one each in Punjab, Sindh and FATA.