The study “Trail of Tragedy: A Chronology of Violence in Pakistan 2010,” carried out by a rights-based civil society organization called Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO), chronologically lists and elaborates on incidents of terrorism that took place in 2010, the Express Tribune reported Saturday.

The terror incidents include suicide attacks, bomb blasts, ambushes, target killings, casualties caused during military operations, attacks on security forces and drone attacks in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

The death toll in bombings in the first 10 months of 2010 is estimated at 1,801.

Compared to the previous year, the frequency of drone attack increased, reportedly killing 544 militants.

Last year, 2,060 militants were killed in military operations. A total of 273 people were reported dead in target killings, which affected not only the tribal areas and Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa but also the urban centers of Pakistan, the report said.

However, it stated: “Even though the sense of insecurity and fear has generally increased, there does not seem to be a collective concern among the general public about the curse of terrorism.”

Schools continued to be targeted by terrorists and militants have recently started targeting shrines of Sufi saints that “represent tolerance, peace and co-existence.”

Commenting on the report, SPO Chief Executive Naseer Memon said: “The destruction to the symbolic heritage of our country, especially symbols of peace, does not bode well for us. Destroying symbols of peace is an attempt by obscurantist forces to pave the way for their violent agenda.”

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) has said the country was “at the brink of economic collapse” and that a turnaround was not possible unless peace comes to Karachi.

PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and General-Secretary Mushahid Hussain Sayed, addressing a press conference in Karachi Friday, said they had handed over to the government a five-point list of things to do.

The list was, however, “not a deadline”, they said. “We don't believe in deadlines,” Shujaat Hussain was quoted as saying by the Geo News.

“The issue of target killings is a very serious one which must be dealt with properly,” he said.

More than 60 people have lost their lives to violence in the first fortnight of 2011.

Mushahid Hussain added that corruption and target killings could be the main factors responsible for the country's economic collapse.

Shujaat Hussain said his party wanted the government to complete its five-year term and that the PML-Q does not want to derail the democratic system.

The two leaders also welcomed the tabling of the de-weaponization bill in the National Assembly by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).

Last year, over 1,300 people died in various incidents of target killing in Karachi, while the toll since 1986 is reported to be in excess of 10,000.