Three killed, 48 injured during aerial firing in K-P, FATA

Incidents occurred even though fireworks, display of weapons, sale of toy guns were banned

PESHAWAR/ BANNU/ MARDAN/ BATKHELA: At least three people were killed and 48 were injured due to aerial firing across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administered Tribal Areas from the eve of Eidul Fitr till the second day of celebrations.

Although all SHOs had been directed by SSP Operations Abbas Majeed Marwat to curb the menace in their respective areas and most officials even visited mosques within their jurisdictions during Friday prayers to raise awareness against the scourge of aerial firing on July 1, cases surged again this year.

FR Bannu

At least two people were killed and eight others were injured in aerial firing in Frontier Region (FR) Bannu.



Officials of the political administration confirmed the casualties, saying the deaths and injuries were caused when people fired into the air after Eid prayers in Bakakhel area of FR Bannu. The injured were rushed to the hospital in Bannu district.

Bannu district

At least 17 people were injured due to prolonged aerial firing on the eve and first three days of Eidul Fitr across Bannu district.

According to locals, Bayeena Bibi, Ahmed, Sano Bibi, Nazarkhela Bibi, Aziz Khan, Sher Afzal, Musawwar Khan, Pirdad Khan, Yasir Ahmed, Inaamullah, Muhammad Ali, Hashmat Ali, Muhammad, Afiya, Balqiaz Khan, Hameedullah, Momeen and Pervez Khan were injured.

Batkhela and Peshawar

A man was critically injured by aerial firing on the eve of Eid in Batkhela, Malakand Division. Shafihullah, 21, told the police he was doing shopping in Batkhela Bazaar when a bullet hit him in the shoulder. He was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).

The relatives of Shafihullah urged the government to provide him financial assistance since they did not have resources for his treatment.

A child identified as Amir was injured when a bullet hit him in Mattani village of Peshawar. He was rushed to LRH where his condition is stated to be normal.

LRH saw a large number of patients from various parts of K-P.

A 12-year-old boy, Awais, was brought to the facility in a critical condition from Takkar, Mardan and succumbed to his injuries there. A month-old injured child was also brought from Charsadda.

According to an official of LRH, apart from the above mentioned casualties, 20 more patients were brought to the facility from all over K-P on the eve of Eid. The exact figures could not be ascertained as doctors and officials were away for Eid holidays.

The K-P police managed to curtail aerial firing within the limits of urban areas, however incidents emerged from the outskirts of the city.

Earlier, Marwat issued a statement stating “strict action” would be taken against relevant officers if any such incidents were reported. Fireworks, display of weapons and sale of toy guns were banned through the implementation of Section 144.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2016.