As compared to the past weeks, violence subsided considerably during the current week. The data collected through different sources suggests that 101 people lost their lives in 56 incidents of violence across the country. Once again, insurgency infested Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and tribal regions of Pakistan witnessed majority of violent incidents (for details see data sheet). The violent clashes also left 70 people injured. Number of injured increased from last week 56 to 70 this week.

For the third weekin a row, the civilians endured the major brunt of violence. As data depicts that 67 percent of the total perished, were the civilians: 68 civilians lost their lives and 54 others were injured in the ongoing armed conflicts of various natures across the country. The militants ranked second on the causality ladder, 30 militants were killed and 14 others injured, mostly as a result of the ongoing military vs. militants– clashes in different areas of KP and FATA. Furthermore like the preceding week, no CIA operated drone strike was reported during the current week in any part of the country. Meanwhile militants continued their sabotage campaign to demolish state infrastructure and blew up three schools in different areas of KP and FATA.

Moreover, a keen look into the territory of bloodshed suggests that sectarian violence is picking up in the country, especially in Quetta (Balochistan) and Karachi (Sindh). Sectarian attacks are directed against the minority Shia people, particularly belonging to Hazara community residing in Quetta. Seven sectarian attacks, six in Quetta and one in Karachi, killing 14 (12 from Hazara community) and injured two others were reported during the current week.

Like the previous four weeks, once again target killings left majority of the people dead during the current week. As 82 percent (4/5) of the total civilian causalities were the result of the ongoing spree of target killing in Karachi, Quetta and tribal regions. Data shows that 40 incidents of target killings ´of which 22 were reported in Karachi alone, left 56 people dead and 40 others wounded. Meanwhile unlike March during the current month, deaths due to the ongoing military operations against militants in KP and FATA declined sharply. During the current week, only 1/5 of the total deaths were the result of military vs. militants– clashes.

The bar chart illustrates the number and nature of tactics employed by the militants to project violence. It notes that target killings proved to be the most lethal tactic, as more than one half (55 percent) of the total deaths occurred due to the ferocious wave of target killings. The second major cause of causalities was the military-militants– clashes, and 30 militants were killed and 14 others were injured in four clashes in KP and FATA regions. Ten mutilated dead bodies; nine of civilians and one of a police constable were also recovered from different areas of Karachi, Balochistan and FATA.

On the whole, the death toll dropped from last week 107 to 101 this week, but the number of violent incidents swelled a little ´ 56 against last week 51. Sectarian attacks involving minority Shia people and banned militant sectarian outfits, and target killings of the people belonging to different ethno-political backgrounds are driving the state deeper into the abyss of violence and bloodshed.

Sources

1. The News
2. Dawn
3. The Express Tribune
4. Pakistan Today
5. Daily Times
6. The Frontier Post
7. Jang (Urdu)
8. Daily Mashriq (Urdu)
9. Aaj (Urdu)