KARACHI: The first quarter data on violence-related casualties (both fatalities and injuries) shows an overall decline when compared to the data from Q1, 2015. A total of 872 people were killed in this quarter, while another 573 injured.
This is a decrease of 36.8% from Q1, 2015, which saw 1,360 deaths. Despite this overall decline, Q1 showed a nearly 10% increase in violence-related fatalities when compared to Q4, 2015, the Center for Research and Security Studies.
Additionally, militants, insurgents and criminals accounted for 68% of all fatalities in Q1, 2015, which has dropped to 54% in Q1, 2016. Conversely, fatalities of non-combatants (civilians, security officials, and government officials) rose from 32% in Q1, 2015 to 46% in Q1, 2016.
The decline in violence in Sindh, particularly District Karachi, is remarkable with 152 fatalities, against 368 in Q1, 2015. Punjab, on the other hand, showed a striking increase in violence, from 163 in Q1, 2015 to 259 in Q1, 2016. Balochistan also showed a slight increase. FATA showed a marked decrease, from 619 in Q1, 2015 to 239, a 61% reduction in violence-related fatalities. KP was about on par with data from Q1, 2015. The number of deaths from sectarian violence also decreased by nearly 48%, despite major attacks, such as the one on Easter Sunday.
This data suggests that the fight is far from over, and the unconditional implementation of rule of law should be the most paramount objective moving forward. NNI
