Celebratory fire leaves teenage boy dead, 10 people injured

A teenage boy was killed and 10 other people suffered wounds when stray bullets hit them during celebratory firing in the city on Sunday night after the Pakistan cricket team’s scintillating win over India in the ICC Champions Trophy’s final match at The Oval.

People opened fire in all parts of the metropolis to express their happiness over their country’s victory against arch-rival India.

A 14-year-old boy succumbed to his bullet wounds at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) on Monday.

Muhammad Hussain, son of Syed Kazim Raza, was watching fireworks in the gallery of his house in Model Colony when he was hit in the abdomen by a stray bullet.

The Model Colony SHO said Hussain was an O levels student. Ten other people, including a DSNG assistant of a private TV channel, were brought to different hospitals with bullet wounds.

DSNG assistant Shariq, son of Ishtiaq Ahmed, was busy covering the celebrations outside Pakistan team skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed’s house in Buffer Zone when a bullet hit him in the head.

Taimuria police said Shariq was rushed to the JPMC, where doctors decided to go for a surgery.

Karachi’s additional inspector general (AIG), Mushtaq Ahmed Mehar, directed Saddar SDPO Kunwar Asif and the Saddar SHO to ensure the provision of all facilities to the DSNG assistant during his treatment.

Paposh Nagar SHO Arshad Janjua said Hira, 22, wife of Jawed, was injured when she was celebrating Pakistan’s win on the rooftop of their house.

Brigade police said Sarfaraz, 22, son of Ejaz, was hit by a stray bullet near Mangal Bazaar in Lines Area.

Eight-year-old Tabassum, daughter of Mehmood, suffered a sing bullet wound in the Chakiwara police limits, and Muhammad Nasir, 42, son of Muhammad Yousuf, was injured in the Jamshed Quarters police limits.

Eighteen-year-old Rema, daughter of Salman, was hit by a bullet when she was celebrating Pakistan’s win over India on the rooftop of her house in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal police jurisdiction. Quaidabad police said Samina, daughter of Muhammad Ali, suffered injuries to the upper torso at Pathan Ground. Sixteen-year-old Noreen was wounded by a stray bullet at Gold Mark Shopping Centre in the Defence police precints. 

SHO Liaqaut Hayat said Noreen was hit by a bullet in her leg, but she left for her house without any legal formality.

Twelve-year-old Muhammad Yousaf, son of Yaqoob, suffered gunshot injuries in the Korangi police limits, and nine-year-old Altaf, son of Mithal, was wounded in Gulistan-e-Jauhar’s Block 14.