2 dead, 92 injured in celebratory aerial firing incidents in Karachi on Independence Day eve

KARACHI: At least two people were killed and 92 others injured in celebratory firing incidents in Karachi on the eve of Pakistan’s Independence Day, officials said on Friday.

Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said 17 people were brought to Civil Hospital, 24 were brought to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and 53 were brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

She added that one male from PIB Colony and an infant died due to their injuries. The doctor said another woman was also brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound, with police saying that the incident was caused due to accidental firing of a gun.

Earlier Edhi said that 86 people had been injured in aerial firing incidents, including 10 women, 17 children and 59 men. Firing incidents were reported in Lyari, Saddar, Korangi, Malir, Azizabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Gulbahar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Orangi Town, Jamshed Quarters and Defence, it said.

Meanwhile, police in Karachi’s East district launched a crackdown against aerial firing on Independence Day and took 10 suspects into custody from various areas.

In a statement, police said weapons used for aerial firing were also recovered from the arrested suspects. The arrests were made within the jurisdictions of Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Sharea Faisal, Sachal, Gulistan-i-Johar and Site Super Highway police stations, police said.

According to police in Karachi’s West district, three suspects had been arrested for aerial firing on Independence Day.

Incidents of aerial firing are a routine occurrence on occasions such as Independence Day and New Year’s Eve despite bans imposed in the past, often leaving dozens injured.

Last year, three people, including a minor girl, were killed and over 100 others wounded in celebratory gunfire across the metropolis at midnight on Independence Day.