Ban on aerial firing flouted: 29 injured in Karachi incidents

KARACHI: Twenty-nine people have been injured in New Year firing incidents in different areas of Karachi despite a ban on aerial firing.

According to the police, 31 accused have been arrested from various areas of the city which include Orangi Town, Mango Pir, Sarjani, Gulshane-e-Maymar, Pakistan Bazar, Momnaabad, Docks, Saeedabad, Khawaja Ajmeer Nagri, Liaqatabad, Super market, Ittehad Town, Johraabad and Sir Syed areas.

Weapons have been recovered from the accused and a case has been registered against them. 

According to the police, at least 29 people have been injured in the firing incidents in different localities of the city and the injured also include women and children.

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The Karachi Commissioner had imposed Section 144 for 48 hours starting December 31, as per a notification.

New Year’s Eve in Karachi often witnesses aerial firing and fireworks, leading to injuries in the past. On December 31, 2023, then-Commissioner Muhammad Saleem Rajput implemented Section 144 to ensure public safety during celebrations.

The notification explained that the commissioner, using powers granted by the provincial home department, enforced the ban from December 31 to January 1, 2024. The South Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) had requested restrictions on displaying firearms, aerial firing, and fireworks to protect citizens’ lives.

The commissioner highlighted that some individuals engage in aerial firing on New Year’s Eve, which poses risks to human lives. A complete ban on carrying arms, aerial firing, and fireworks for New Year’s Eve 2025 was also announced, applicable across Karachi from December 31, 2024, to January 1, 2025.

Section 144 allows district administrations to restrict gatherings of four or more people in an area for a specified period.