Happy New Year?: Pakistan welcomes 2013 with gunfire and bhangras

At least one person killed and six people injured in Karachi celebratory firing.

As soon as the clocks struck midnight to mark the turn of the year to 2013, revellers broke out in aerial firing and dancing across Pakistan.

However, the mood quickly turned sour as the celebratory firing claimed the life of one person, and injured six others Express News reported.

The aerial firing followed after what was touted as strict measures to curb untoward incidents. This included a ban on pillion riding, ban on wheelies and the closure of the Sea View road, a popular venue for revellers and motorsport enthusiasts.

However, many of these restrictions were openly flouted as citizens chose to express themselves.

The government had retracted its earlier decision to suspend cell phone services through the evening of December 31, 2012 to the morning of January 1, 2013.

Aerial firing was reported from other cities of Pakistan too including Hyderabad and Lahore among other cities.

Many people also broke out in traditional dances, bhangra, to the beat of drums despite the cold in Islamabad.