KARACHI: At least 28 people, among them two women, were injured in multiple incidents of aerial firing in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi on New Year’s Eve, the Sindh Health Department said in an official statement on Wednesday.
Aerial firing is a common but dangerous practice in Pakistan during joyous occasions, though it has led to several fatalities in the past. While celebratory gunfire is illegal, it remains difficult for police and state authorities to effectively enforce the law nationwide.
Police in Karachi announced robust security measures for New Year’s Eve at the popular Seaview area on Tuesday, which included deploying over 2,400 officers and staff to ensure public safety and maintain order during celebrations.
“Eleven people aged between 11-50 years, including two females, were injured in Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center,” the Sindh Health Department said. “Seven people aged between 18-31 years at Civil Hospital Karachi and 10 people aged 17-35 years [were injured] at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.”
According to data compiled by Karachi Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed, 19 people were injured due to aerial firing in 2020, 11 in 2021, 20 in 2022, 40 in 2023 and 26 in 2024.
Karachi police confirmed the arrest of 12 individuals from different districts of the city for aerial firing and the confiscation of their weapons. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend others involved.
“So far, 12 suspects have been taken into custody, from whom weapons have also been recovered,” it said.
Several people have been injured in the past due to aerial firing incidents in Karachi on various occasions. Ninety-five people were injured due to aerial firing in the city on Aug. 14, 2024, when the nation celebrated its 78th Independence Day. Of the total number of people injured, 75 were males while 20 were females.
