According to a report published by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) on Tuesday, political violence claimed at least 106 lives while 156 people sustained injuries in 27 incidents from March 2 to 8, showing a sharp increase compared to preceding week’s 57 killed and 50 injured.
Civilians constituted majority of the 232 victims – 81 killed and 151 injured. The civilian deaths increased from last week’s 29. Twenty-four militants and a security man were also killed.
Region-wise, Sindh was the most volatile with 69 people killed and 154 injured in sectarian violence, targeted attacks, attacks on political party workers and security forces. Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) was the second most violent region where 25 people were killed – 24 militants and a polio worker. In Balochistan, eight people including a journalist were killed in target killings and incidents of terrorism while four people were killed in sectarian violence incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
Eight people were killed and 20 injured in eight terrorism incidents. Out of these, two were government-run school buildings – one in Mardan and the other in Mohmand Agency.
In another incident, Awami National Party (ANP) leader’s house was attacked in Peshawar. Counterterrorism was the second most lethal category in which 24 militants were killed in two incidents in Orakzai Agency.
Five targeted attacks claimed nine lives in Karachi while another three attacks killed seven people in Balochistan. In attacks on political party workers, three workers – two representing Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and one of ANP – were killed.
Sindh again saw the most incidents of political violence, followed by four each in KP, FATA and Balochistan and one in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Political violence was reported in eight districts during the reporting week, slightly down from the preceding week’s nine districts. Karachiwas the most violent district where 69 people were killed and 145 injured mainly in sectarian violence. Orakzai Agency was the second most violent district where 24 militants were killed in two separate military operations. In other districts, the casualties remained less than four.
