By Our Correspondent
KARACHI: One woman was killed and at least 93 people were injured in separate aerial firing incidents across Karachi as residents celebrated Pakistan’s Independence Day in the early hours of Thursday.
The incidents began shortly after midnight as large crowds gathered on roads and rooftops to mark August 14. According to police, many of the injured were struck by bullets fired from unidentified directions.
A woman sustained critical injuries after being hit by a stray bullet in the Sarafa Bazaar area of Paposh Nagar. She was rushed to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Police said several other residents were wounded in different parts of the city, including New Karachi, Nazimabad, Orangi Town, Saddar, Korangi, Lyari, Jamshed Quarters, Mominabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Mahmoodabad.
Among those injured were children, including a four-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl. A 12-year-old child was also reported injured in Orangi Town.
Other firing-related injuries were reported near Five Star Chowrangi, Liaquatabad underpass, Jinnah Hospital, Cantt Station, North Nazimabad, Malir, Azizabad, Garden, MA Jinnah Road and several areas of Korangi and Orangi Town.
The injured were transported to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Police continued to collect information about the incidents and appealed to citizens to avoid aerial firing during celebrations.
Aerial firing is a dangerous practice that can result in serious injuries and fatalities because bullets fired into the air can travel considerable distances before falling back to the ground.