Six-year-old boy dies in celebratory fire on New Year's Eve

KARACHI: Despite a ban imposed by the government on aerial firing on the eve of New Year, a six-year-old boy fell victim to aerial firing Saturday night.

Subhan, son of Irfan, was injured by a stray bullet near Madni Masjid Saturday night. According to Azizabad SHO Jamal Leghari, Subhan was injured near his house when unidentified youths resorted to indiscriminate fire to mark the New Year.

He was shifted to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, said Leghari. The deceased was a student of class one. A case has yet to be registered. Meanwhile, over a dozen people were wounded in different aerial firing and firework incidents Saturday night.



Aerial firing incidents were recorded in various parts of the city, including Gulberg, Liaquatabad, Defence, Keamari, Lyari, PIB Colony, Baldia Town, and Malir.

A seven-year-old girl, Afta, daughter of Shaukat, was among the injured persons. Afta was wounded by a stray bullet in Liaquatabad No 2. Nearly a dozen others were also wounded in Brigade, Landhi, Jamshed Quarters, Baldia Town, Soldier Bazaar, Garden, PIB Colony and Kharadar areas. Meanwhile, over two dozen youths were also arrested on the eve of New Year for violation of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Clifton and Gulberg localities.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 2^nd, 2017.