City welcomes New Year with music, fireworks, gunfire

KARACHI:

At zero-hour midnight the port city reverberated with the crackle of celebratory firing to mark the arrival of New Year.

At least 14 people including two children were injured by stray bullets.

Aerial firing continued for many minutes, though the district administration had imposed section 144 and the police and Rangers had warned of locking up people found firing guns on New Year eve.

Karachi police, instead of taking action against influential people firing automatic weapons from SUVs, asked people to make videos of such incidents and send them so that they can take action.

Citizens said it would be insane to make video of a person firing in the air.

Read More: 10km marathon to celebrate New Year today

Traffic police had made a traffic plan to control revelers heaing to Sea View and Clifton beaches.

The biggest crowds were at Clifton and Sea View, where hundreds of young people arrived and cheered the New Year amid fireworks. A large gathering of youth and women was also seen at North Nazimabad Five Star Chowrangi. As soon as the fireworks started at zero-hour, people cheered. Everyone was seen swinging and dancing ti the beat of loud music.

Similarly, gatherings were seen at Bahadurabad and Tariq Road. Police conducted snap checks at several places.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2022.