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'Terror stalks Pakistan professionals'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Aug. 23. Professionals in Pakistan are emerging as the most vulnerable to terrorist and sectarian violence. In the current year, so far 99 professionals have been killed and over 200, who were targeted, were lucky to survive.

According to the research and documentation centre of Lawyers for Human Rights and Legal Aid (LHRLA) and Madadgaar, voluntary organisations, despite the claims made by officials, the law and order situation was deteriorating day by day.

The data shows since January 2003, 99 professionals, including 13 doctors, one engineer, one journalist, two judges, two nazims and nine lawyers were murdered.

"It is widely believed that trained terrorists — well-armed, well-planned and well-funded — have played havoc with the Pakistani society," the LHRLA said.The research and documentation centre of the LHRLA and Madadgaar documents all cases published in newspapers or are otherwise acknowledged, to collect information regarding human rights violations, especially against children and women.According to the LHRLA's research, last year 522 professionals came under attack. The law and order situation was more precarious in Sind compared to other provinces. The research revealed that police failed to tackle the problem and about 48 police officials were murdered, while many others were injured by unknown assailants.

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