Several hurt as Karachiites welcome 2023 with celebratory gunfire
January 01, 2023
KARACHI: Several people, including a child and women, were injured due to aerial firing in different parts of Karachi as jubilant citizens marked the arrival of the new year despite a ban on display of firearms.
As the clock ticked 12am to announce the arrival of year 2023 on Saturday night, the port city resonated with the sounds of heavy gunfire. At least 22 people were hit with stray bullets.
The injured were taken to the hospitals from Saddar, Garden, Osmanabad Panjwani Plaza, Lighthouse, Raja Mansion, Hussainabad, Board Office in Nazaimabad (where a minor child got injured), Nazimabad Bridge, Liaquatabad No. 4, Five Star Chowrangi, Kharadar, Kashmir Colony, Dhoraji Chowrangi, Expo Centre (where a woman was injured), Al-Asif Square, ICI Bridge Soomro Gali, Landhi Future Colony (where a woman was seriously injured), Nagan Chowrangi (where a woman injured), Qasba Colony’s Kati Pahari and Water Pump, Gulberg. A minor boy was injured in aerial firing near North Nazimabad’s Board office.
A youth injured in firing at KDA Chowrangi in North Nazimabad has been identified as 20-year-old Shahmir, son of Khursheed Alam. A 22-year-old man, identified as Naveed son of Sher Hussain, was wounded in Hussainabad. Bedal, 36, son of Shah, was injured in Nazimabad’s Naya Golimar area, while in Liaquatabad No. 4, 35-year-old Adeel, son of Nisar, suffered bullet injury.
According to hospital sources, the Civil Hospital received eight injured, four injured were brought to Jinnah Hospital, and ten injured citizens, including women and children, were admitted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment. According to rescue sources, 22 people have been injured.
Meanwhile, the police have arrested three people over the aerial firing in Korangi and charged them with attempted murder. Law enforcers arrested more than 10 miscreants in the city.
Karachiites took to streets and roads to celebrate the arrival of new year. The Five Star Chowrangi was thronged by people in festive mood. Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori arrived at the Numaish Chowrangi where citizens gathered in large number to watch fireworks.
People also flocked to the Clifton Seaview and Do Darya to view massive fireworks celebrating the New Year. Separately, various clubs, hotels and organisations organised huge firework displays to welcome the New Year. Fireworks were also set off in other parts of the city, inlcuding Bahria Town and Bagh Ibn Qasim.
