33 injured in jubilant firing on New Year’s Eve, dozens of revellers held

Karachi’s New Year celebrations were marred by aerial firing, leaving at least 33 people, women and children among them, injured.

Revellers resorted to jubilant firing in various areas such as Saddar, Lyari, Garden, Korangi, Sachal, Orangi, Site, Sarjani, Malir Quaidabad, Gulistan Johar, Liaquatabad, New Karachi, Baldia, Kemari, Gulbahar, Rizvia Society, Hydari Market, Yusuf Plaza, Shahrah-i Noor Jahan, New Karachi Industrial Area, Nazimabad and others.

Turning to the microblogging site ‘X’, chief police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed Tariq confirmed at least 33 people struck by stray bullets were brought to three hospitals of the city.

15 injured were brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), 11 to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital and 7 to the Civil Hospital Karachi, she added.

#AerialFiring #NewYear
Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center: 15
Abbasi Shaheed Hospital: 11
Civil Hospital Karachi / SMBBIT: 07
Total injured: 33. One critical #PoliceSurgeonKarachi

— Summaiya Syed Tariq (@DrSueTariq) January 1, 2024

Acting swiftly, the Karachi police apprehended dozens of revellers indulging in aerial firing and recovered weapons from their possession.

The District Central police arrested as many as 21 suspects who engaged in aerial firing on New Year's Eve. They seized 12 pistols, one rifle, firecrackers, 32 shells, and 30 rounds from their possession. Large quantity of liquor was also seized in Jackson police precincts.

Earlier, the city police chief had said that strict action would be taken against people resorting to aerial firing on New Year's Eve.

In a message on the social media platform 'X', Additional Inspector General Khadim Hussain Rind said that those indulging in jubilant firing on New Year's Eve would be booked under different charges including attempted murder.