The number of honour killing cases reported in Sindh during the first four months of 2026 declined compared with the same period last year, according to official statistics, although women continued to account for the majority of victims.
Data released by authorities showed that 45 honour killing cases, commonly known as karo-kari cases, were registered across the province between Jan. 1 and April 30, 2026, resulting in the deaths of 49 people. During the corresponding period in 2025, 58 cases were reported, with 68 victims killed.
The statistics indicate a year-on-year decline of 13 cases and 19 victims during the first four months of 2026.
In April alone, nine honour killing cases involving women were reported, compared with 11 cases during the same month last year. The number of women killed in such incidents also fell from 14 in April 2025 to nine in April 2026.
Cases involving male victims showed an even sharper decline. No honour killing case involving a male victim was reported in April 2026, compared with six such cases in April 2025. Only one man was killed in an honour-related incident during April this year, down from six in the same month last year.
Overall, karo-kari cases dropped from 17 in April 2025 to nine in April 2026, while the total number of victims fell from 20 to 10 during the same period.
Despite the decline, the figures highlight that women remain disproportionately affected by honour-based violence in Sindh. Of the 49 victims recorded during the first four months of 2026, 37 were women, accounting for more than three-quarters of all deaths linked to honour killings.
Rights activists have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of laws and greater public awareness to eliminate honour-based violence, which continues to claim lives despite legal reforms and government efforts to curb the practice.
Reporter: Shayan Ali Mirjat