Girl fatally shot during mehndi function

Motorcyclists open fire at celebration, killing teenager

LAHORE:

A 16-year-old girl, Ayesha, was shot dead by unidentified motorcyclists during a mehndi function in Manawan.

The incident occurred when Muhammad Ibrahim, father of the deceased, along with his family, was attending the event in Ali Park near Rizwan Garden.

According to Ibrahim, the family had set up a tent on an empty plot and were engaged in celebrations when two unidentified motorcyclists arrived and began firing into the air.

After a brief pause, they started shooting directly at the crowd. In the chaos that ensued, Ayesha was hit and collapsed, bleeding profusely. Despite immediate efforts, she succumbed to her injuries.

The police have registered a murder case against the unidentified assailants.

IG Punjab Usman Anwar has taken notice of the incident and requested a report from CCPO Lahore.

On the same night, a similar incident of celebratory aerial firing claimed the life of a teenage girl in Karachi.

The victim, Khadija Hussain, was riding a bus with other guests when unidentified suspects, reportedly friends of the bridegroom, began firing into the air.

A stray bullet hit Khadija, causing her death. The police have arrested the bridegroom and his father and are conducting further investigations.

Aerial firing to mark celebrations is a common practice in Pakistan, often leading to injuries and fatalities.

In April, six people died due to aerial firing at a wedding in Akri Khanzada Khail village, Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On New Year's Eve, 33 people were injured in Karachi alone due to such incidents.

A study by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information reported 144 firearm injuries from aerial firing in two years at a single hospital in Karachi.

Most injuries occurred during marriage ceremonies, political rallies, and New Year celebrations. Common injury sites included the chest, head and neck, abdomen, and limbs.

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA reports that 80% of stray bullet injuries affect the head, with an average of two deaths and 25 injuries annually due to celebratory firing on New Year's Eve.

Media reports indicate that 68% of victims of stray bullet injuries on New Year's night were males, with children making up 21% of those injured.

Aerial firings and stray bullets pose significant risks to innocent citizens, often resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. The documented mortality rate for these victims is around 32%, significantly higher than the 2%-6% associated with other types of firearm injuries.