The brother went to the police station with the bloody axe and was later released without punishment. The story is one of many related by Pakistani women's and human rights activists, printed in newspapers, on file at police stations, or discovered by this journalist. Although both sexes are at risk, many men escape death by running away or persuading the woman's relatives to accept cash, land or even women in marriage. Women rarely have such alternatives. The victims included 180 women and 20 men.
Activists believe the figure is in fact much higher, since most honour killings go unreported.
Moreover, Sindh is only one of the regions in Pakistan where such incidents occur. The stories are shocking. Pervaiz Khatoon was a teenager when sold against her will by her father into marriage, according to human rights activist Ramzan Memon who comes from the same village in the Larkana district. Loyal to her husband, she resisted repeated sexual advances from her male in-laws with whom she lived, particularly her husband's nephew. Because of her refusals, Khatoon was declared Kari, even though her husband maintained that she did not have illicit relations with anyone.