Independence Day festivities in Karachi turned tragic on Friday after celebratory aerial firing across the city killed one woman and left 94 others wounded, among them 17 children, according to rescue officials.
An Edhi Foundation representative reported that the injury count had reached 94, breaking down to 10 women, 17 children and 59 men. Rescue sources said the woman’s death occurred amid the same round of celebratory gunfire that affected multiple neighborhoods.
Those hurt were rushed to three major facilities, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Civil Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, for emergency treatment.
Hospitals Report Overnight Surge From Karachi Aerial Firing
Hospital administrators detailed how patients arrived throughout the night. Abbasi Shaheed Hospital admitted 24 individuals, including one woman, four children and 19 men. Jinnah Hospital treated 35 patients, comprising three children, four women and 28 men, while Civil Hospital’s trauma unit handled 26 cases, including 10 children, four women and 12 men.
Incidents of gunfire were recorded in numerous neighborhoods, including Lyari, Saddar, Korangi, Malir, Azizabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Gulbahar, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Orangi Town, Jamshed Quarters and Defence.
Over 30 Detained as Police Recover Weapons
Law enforcement said 30 suspects were taken into custody in connection with celebratory firing across the city’s eastern, western and central districts. Arrests took place in areas such as Hyderi Market, Bilal Colony, Liaquatabad, New Karachi, Taimuria, Azizabad, Joharabad and Gulbahar, with additional detentions falling under the Khwaja Ajmer Nagri, Samanabad, Rizvia Society and Sir Syed police station jurisdictions.
Officers recovered multiple weapons from those arrested. In Gulshan-e-Iqbal, a security guard was detained and a firearm seized from him, while two additional suspects were apprehended in Orangi Town and Iqbal Market, the SSP West said.
Separate Fatal Shooting Reported in Paposh Nagar
In an unrelated case at a hotel in Paposh Nagar’s Sarafa Bazaar, a woman died after a pistol reportedly discharged accidentally. Police said the firearm had been left on a table with a live round still chambered and went off while someone was handling it, striking the woman.
She was transported to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Police arrested the suspect, identified as Imran, who is the victim’s cousin, and recovered a 9mm pistol from him.
Authorities have consistently cautioned the public against celebratory firing, noting that bullets shot into the air can descend with enough force to cause serious injury or death.
Karachi has faced recurring harm from this practice during past Independence Day celebrations. Last year, three people died and roughly 75 were injured in similar episodes, while 2024 saw about 95 people hurt in comparable aerial firing incidents.