Pakistan's Karachi hubbies violent says survey

Verbal abuse topped the list followed by physical abuse, the study by the Aga Khan university noted. Other forms of maltreatment were psychological, economic and sexual.

In majority cases of violence no legal proceedings were initiated against the perpetrators, according to the finding. In-laws of a woman "collaborated" with her husband in the violence against her.

A concept that women were subordinate to men, economic dependence and limited access to legal rights discouraged women from seeking to end the abuse, the study suggested.

The report did not specify how the study was carried out or how many people were interviewed.

(la/dpa)