KARACHI: New Year celebrations turned violent across Karachi on Thursday night as celebratory aerial firing resulted in at least 17 civilians, including women and children, being wounded by stray bullets.
Rescue services confirmed the casualties. “We have shifted 17 injured individuals from various neighborhoods to Jinnah Hospital and Abbas Shaheed Hospital for treatment,” said an official from Rescue 1122 Karachi.
In response to the illegal firing, Karachi police launched a city-wide crackdown. A police spokesperson stated that 16 individuals had been arrested in connection with aerial firing in areas including Korangi, Liaquatabad, and West Karachi. Furthermore, it was confirmed that nine of the total injured were victims of such firing.
The police had implemented strict security measures for the holiday, including snap-checking points and the deployment of drone cameras, to enforce a ban mandated by the Sindh Home Department. The department had issued a clear notification prohibiting the display of weapons and aerial firing in the city for New Year’s.
Authorities are continuing their search for other individuals involved in the incidents as investigations proceed.
Meanwhile the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Balochistan, Muhammad Tahir, announced on Tuesday a major escalation in the province’s law enforcement strategy for the coming year, vowing a severe crackdown on criminal networks and a zero-tolerance policy against anti-social elements.
Addressing a year-end performance briefing at the Central Police Office, the IGP stated that the campaign against dangerous gangs, habitual offenders, and organized crime syndicates would be “further tightened” across all districts. He was flanked by DIG Headquarters Hasan Asad Alvi and AIG Operations Naveed Alam.
“We will take effective strategic measures to eliminate organized crime,” IGP Tahir declared, emphasizing that criminals involved in serious offences like street crime, dacoity, robbery, murder, and kidnapping would be brought to justice. He directed supervisory officers in all districts to intensify efforts against drug trafficking, illegal weapons, gender-based crimes, and organized vehicle theft rings in major cities. He stressed the need for expedited investigations and exemplary punishment for convicted criminals.
