Gunfire
On New Year’s Eve, Karachi experienced a surge in celebratory gunfire, resulting in at least 30 individuals sustaining injuries from stray bullets. Law enforcement swiftly responded by detaining 65 people engaged in aerial firing across the metropolis. Despite prior warnings and a ban on such activities, gunfire echoed throughout various districts, with incidents predominantly reported in the central district.
Women and children were among those wounded, necessitating their transfer to prominent medical facilities such as Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Dr. Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Most incidents occurred in North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad, Rizvia Society, and other central areas.
The Karachi police chief had issued a stern warning just a day before, cautioning citizens that charges of attempted murder would be pressed against those engaging in aerial firing on New Year’s Eve. The firing instances spanned multiple locations, including Keamari, Lyari, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and Sea View.
Incriminating footage emerged on social media, showcasing a woman firing a gun at a Malir farmhouse. Additionally, a child suffered injuries from a stray bullet in Korangi No 1. Prompt police action led to the arrest of four suspects in Keamari, Korangi, and PIB Colony.
This incident comes after a similar episode during Independence Day celebrations earlier in the year, where two fatalities and over 80 injuries occurred due to celebratory gunfire. In anticipation of New Year’s Eve, the Additional Inspector General Karachi had instructed traffic police to apprehend reckless or intoxicated drivers. Furthermore, a city-wide ban on the possession and display of weapons was enforced, with directives to detain individuals involved in aerial firing.
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