At least 95 injured due to aerial firing in Karachi

Karachi: At least 95 individuals were injured, and a child lost their life as a result of celebratory aerial firing in Karachi on the eve of Independence Day, a local hospital official  reported on Wednesday.

Despite previous bans, aerial firing incidents frequently occur during celebrations such as Independence Day and New Year’s Eve, often resulting in numerous injuries.

According to police surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, a total of 95 cases of aerial firing were reported across three major hospitals in Karachi.

At the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), 39 cases were recorded, including 33 men and six women. The oldest victim was 74 years old, while the youngest was a five-year-old child.

Abbasi Shaheed Hospital treated 34 injured individuals, comprising 25 men and nine women, with ages ranging from six to 65 years.

At the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (SMBB) Trauma Centre, 22 people were reported injured, including 17 men and five women. The oldest was 55 years old, and the youngest was six years old.

Dr. Syed noted that one patient at the SMBB Trauma Centre was in critical condition. She also confirmed the death of a child, with police stating that a suspect had been arrested in connection with the incident.

Earlier, the Chhipa rescue service provided a list of the injured, including their ages and the areas where the incidents occurred.

“People injured due to aerial firing in various parts of Karachi on Independence Day are being taken to the Civil (SMBB Trauma Centre), Jinnah (JPMC), and Abbasi Shaheed hospitals via Chhipa ambulances,” the statement said.

The list, which documented 75 injured individuals, included 18 minors and 12 women. Among the injured were a three-year-old, two four-year-olds, and an 82-year-old woman.

The incidents occurred in various areas, including Korangi, Landhi, Lyari, Nazimabad, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Liaquatabad, Sohrab Goth, and Golimar.

Law enforcement across Karachi’s Central District arrested 14 individuals, while the Korangi District police detained five men in connection with the aerial firing incidents. Weapons were reportedly recovered in all cases.

Zeeshan Shafique, the spokesperson for the Central District senior superintendent of police, stated that 14 suspects were apprehended within the jurisdiction of various police stations, and cases were registered against them.

In a separate incident, Shahrah-i-Noor Jahan police arrested a suspect after a child died from accidental gunfire. The police recovered a licensed pistol from the suspect, and a First Information Report (FIR) was filed.

Police stations in Khawaja Ajmer Nagri, New Karachi, Sir Syed, Supermarket, Hyderi Market, Paposhnagar, Joharabad, and Gulbahar each arrested one individual involved in aerial firing, with most of the recovered weapons being licensed.

Nazimabad police arrested two suspects, while Sharifabad police detained three, according to Shafique’s statement.

Separately, Korangi District police reported the arrest of five men allegedly involved in aerial firing.

These arrests took place in Saudabad, Landhi, Zaman Town, and various other areas of Korangi, with weapons recovered from the suspects and cases registered against them.