KARACHI: At least 30 people got wounded by stray bullets and 65 people were arrested for aerial firing on New Year’s night across the metropolis after Karachi echoed with the sound of bullets as soon as the clock ticked midnight despite the ban and warnings of arrest under charges of attempted murder.
Women and children are also among those who received bullet wounds. They were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medical treatment. Most of the firing incidents took place in the district central.
Just a day ago, the Karachi police chief had warned the citizens that they would be charged with attempted murder for aerial firing on the occasion of New Year’s Eve.
The firing incidents were reported in North Nazimabad, Liaquatabad C-I Area, Rizvia Society, Hussainabad, Bahadurabad, Shah Faisal Colony, Keamari, Native Jetty Bridge, Lyari, Ranchorr Line, Clifton Baldia Town, North Karachi, Sea View, Korangi, Dalmia, Gulshan-e-Iqbal 13-D, Lines Area, Mehmoodabad, PIB Colony, and Malir.
A video of a woman firing a gun at a Malir farmhouse last night is also doing rounds on social media.
A child was injured from a stray bullet in Korangi No 1 while four suspects were arrested in Keamari, Korangi and PIB Colony. Four people were injured in Lyari Daryabad, Ranchorr Line, Dalmia and Clifton and two others got wounded in Gulshan 13-D area. 18 suspects were arrested from district central.
Additional Inspector General Karachi Khadim Hussain Rind has said charges of attempted murder would be included in the cases lodged against those involved in aerial firing on New Year’s night.
On August 14, at least two people had lost their lives while over 80 got wounded because of aerial firing in various areas of Karachi during the Independence Day celebrations this year.
In view of New Year’s Eve, AIG Rind had also ordered Karachi traffic police chief DIG Iqbal Dara to arrest those driving recklessly or under the influence of alcohol.
Moreover, a ban had also been ordered on the carrying and display of weapons throughout the city, as well as directives for arresting those involved in conducting aerial firing.
