Political violence in the country claimed lives of 163 people in 37 incidents between February 16 and 22, 2013, up from the preceding week’s figure of 106 and 89 the week before, according to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
A total of 225 people were injured during the three weeks. Two of the 37 incidents were direct observations made by FAFEN District Long-Term Observers (DLTOs). Civilians, again, constituted the majority of the 388 casualties–126 people killed and 218 injured. In Quetta, a sectarian attack killed 94 civilians, claimed the FAFEN press release.
It further said that civilian deaths increased almost 80% from last week, when 70 people were killed.
Region-wise, 99 people, including five militants, were killed in Balochistan and 180 were injured. Sindh was the second most violent region, with 26 people killed and 14 injured, mainly in targeted attacks, followed by sectarian violence and attacks on political party workers. In FATA, 26 militants were killed in two aerial bombings while four security personnel sustained injuries in an attack. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, nine people were killed and 27 injured in attacks on public and security forces. In Lahore, two people were killed in a sectarian attack. In two separate incidents one PML-N member was killed and one injured in a clash in Gujranwala while four PML-N workers sustained injuries in another clash in Okara.
Sectarian violence claimed most lives this week, leaving 106 people dead and 183 injured in 10 incidents. Of these, eight occurred in Sindh and one each in Balochistan and Punjab. Terror activities were the second most violent tactic, claiming nine lives with 29 being injured in 10 incidents across the country. Five terrorist attacks targeted state security forces, killing six security personnel and injuring seven others. Four hit the public and one was aimed at a government school building.
Thirty-one militants were killed in three counter-terrorism operations in Orakzai Agency, Khyber Agency and Quetta. Fourteen people were gunned down and eight injured in 10 target killing incidents in Karachi. In four attacks on political party workers, three workers—one each of PML-N, Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Haqeeqi (MQM-H)—were killed.
Sindh, again, saw the most incidents of political violence (22), followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (6), the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Balochistan and Punjab (three each).
This week, political violence occurred in 12 districts, up from the preceding week’s eight districts. Quetta was the most violent district followed by Karachi and Peshawar. In Quetta, 99 people were killed, including five militants, and 177 injured in a major sectarian attack and a counter-terrorism operation. In Karachi, 25 people were killed and eight injured in targeted attacks, sectarian violence and attacks on political party workers while eight people were killed and 22 injured in two attacks on the public and an attack on security forces.
