Celebratory firing

The bullets we fire in celebration often return as bullets of mourning. Once again, Karachi's skies on Independence Day rang not just with fireworks, but with gunfire, claiming innocent lives and reminding us of how deep this reckless tradition runs. This year, a minor girl was among three people killed, while over a hundred suffered bullet wounds from aerial firing. Police records show at least 67 injured, while hospitals report 109 — proof of the chaos that blurs the line between festivity and tragedy.

Aerial firing is neither patriotism nor joy. It is violence disguised as celebration. The bans on this act, reiterated on every major occasion, have clearly failed to deter offenders. Arrests and seizures tell part of the story with 86 suspects in custody, 68 illegal weapons recovered and 111 cases registered. Yet, every year, the toll of dead and wounded tells us these actions are reactive rather than preventive. We mourn the dead after every celebration, and then wait for the next round of gunfire.

What is needed is not just enforcement on the night of the event, but year-round awareness and deterrence supported by community accountability. Laws must be backed by swift convictions under stringent charges. Police presence on known trouble spots should be overwhelming, with real-time monitoring and zero tolerance for illegal arms possession. Equally critical is public education.

Key community stakeholders must relentlessly repeat the message that firing a weapon into the air is as good as firing at a person. Until our society accepts that a gun in celebration is a loaded death sentence, we will keep marking national milestones with both flags and funeral processions. Do we truly want to celebrate our hard-earned independence with more bloodshed?