Pakistan Independence Day: Celebrations turn deadly, 3 killed & over 60 injured
Pakistan Independence Day: According to Geo News, citing a rescue official, three individuals, among them a senior citizen and an 8-year-old girl, lost their lives during Independence Day festivities in Karachi, Pakistan, as a result of 'reckless' aerial gunfire, while more than 60 others were injured by gunshots.
The incidents occurred across the city, with the young girl hit by a stray bullet in Azizabad and a man named Stephen killed in Korangi. At least 64 others suffered gunshot wounds in the citywide incidents, Geo News reported.
Emergency responders reported that many people were hurt because of celebratory gunfire. Officials criticized this behavior as irresponsible and hazardous, encouraging the public to celebrate Independence Day through safer means. Law enforcement has begun their inquiry and promised to take firm measures against individuals involved in shooting into the air.
According to a report obtained by ARY News, at least 42 people, including five women, lost their lives in firing incidents across Karachi in January.
Additionally, 233 people, including five women, were injured in these incidents.
Five individuals lost their lives while trying to prevent robbery attempts during shooting incidents reported across various parts of the city. In other cases, people died due to stray bullets or celebratory gunfire. However, none of the seven victims, including a woman, who died in these shooting events have been identified.
Police officers attributed the episodes to several factors, including disagreements, personal animosities, and resistance to robbery attempts, ARY News reported.
Road accidents, robbery resistance, and aerial firing also contributed to a spike in deaths in Karachi earlier in January. According to the Chipa Foundation, 528 people, including children and the elderly, were injured in road accidents, and 36 people died as a result. In addition, robbery resistance incidents resulted in three fatalities and fifteen injuries.