Karachi’s Independence Day Eve Turns Deadly: Three Killed, Dozens Injured in Aerial Firing

KARACHI — Independence Day celebrations in Karachi were marred by deadly gunfire late Monday night, leaving three people dead — among them a seven-year-old girl — and well over sixty injured in incidents of aerial firing across the city.

Hospital officials said at least 109 people were treated for gunshot wounds at three major medical facilities. Police cited a lower figure, putting the number of injured in the dozens. Taken together, reports suggest the injury toll ranged from more than 60 to over 100.

Despite repeated bans, public awareness drives, and annual police crackdowns, celebratory gunfire remains a dangerous fixture of festive nights such as Independence Day and New Year’s Eve.

The youngest victim, police said, was watching fireworks from the balcony of her home in Azizabad’s Block-8 when a stray bullet struck her head. She was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead, before her body was taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for medico-legal formalities.

Two other fatal shootings were reported in separate parts of the city. In Korangi No 3, a 35-year-old man was killed by a stray bullet while visiting Model Family Park, according to Awami Colony police. In Agra Taj Colony, near Ibrahim Masjid in Kalri, a 70-year-old man was struck while sitting outside his home. South DIG Syed Asad Raza said he died during treatment at Civil Hospital Karachi.

Police said they arrested more than 80 suspects and seized dozens of illegal firearms during overnight operations. Investigations are under way to determine whether any of the recovered weapons were linked to the fatal shootings.

For many in Karachi, the bloodshed underscored a bitter reality: in a city where stray bullets routinely pierce nights of celebration, the joy of national holidays can come at a devastating cost.

Published in Daily Pak, August 14th, 2025