KARACHI: An 11-year-old boy was shot dead while 18 other people, including women and children, were wounded in celebratory gunfire carried out on New Year’s Eve and early on Saturday morning despite strict warnings by police and district administration against firing guns, officials said on Saturday.

Young boy Mohammed Raza was standing outside his home in Sector-5-B-3 in North Karachi when a stray bullet hit him on his head, said a Khawaja Ajmer Nagri police officer.

He was taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), where he died during treatment, said Dr Summaiya Syed, additional police surgeon at the hospital.

An X-ray was taken that showed a stuck-up bullet in the skull. The boy died during treatment. The parents took away his body without allowing medico-legal formalities. They were immensely hurt because the child was their only son.

Incidents of firing into the air took place at night throughout the city

Dr Summaiya Syed added that nine other people, including one nine-year-old boy with wounds, caused by bullets fired into the air that returned back to ground and hurt people, were brought to the JPMC.

A 21-year-old man suffered a bullet wound in his back. He is stated to be out of danger after a surgery.

A woman suffered a bullet wound in her leg. She left hospital after first aid.

Five persons, including two girls, aged 10 and 16, were brought to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (ASH) for treatment while four others, including one 15-year-old boy, were taken to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi bringing the total number to 18.

A police spokesperson said Attaullah, 28, was wounded by a stray bullet at Seaview near Kashti Hotel.

The injured was taken to the JPMC. However, Darakshan SHO claimed no such incident occurred in the area.

He said the firing incident might have occurred in DHA or Gizri.

Rizwan Shahid, 26, was wounded near Zainab Market in Saddar, said Artillery Maidan police.

Mohammad Akmal, 18, was wounded near Begum Gali. Chetan Rajesh, 12, was wounded near Gurumandir. He was taken to the JPMC.

Jauharabad police said Asmatullah, 25, was wounded near A-One Collage, Block 9, Azizabad. He was taken to the ASH.

The police said 16-year-old girl Fasiha was hit by a stray bullet near Aisha Manzil.

In Azizabad, Mohammad Sultan, 46, was wounded near Delhi Shahi Kabab Hotel, Block 3.

Iqra, 12, was wounded near Kohistani Chowk, North Nazimabad. Haris, 14, received a bullet wound near Ranchor Line. He was taken to the CHK. Local police said Nazeera, 40, was wounded near Kamran Chowrangi. Farooq, 30, was hit a bullet near Perfume Chowk, Block 18, Gulistan-i-Jauhar.

Mohammad Akram, 55, was wounded near Daak Khana Bridge. Mohammad Sarwar, 25, was wounded in Nasir Colony, Korangi. Rehan, 25, was wounded near Gosht Market in Malir.

A 24-year-old man, Shabbir, was wounded near Kala Pul. Abdullah, 30, was wounded near Coast Guards Chowrangi, Madina Colony. Imtiaz Ahmed, 25, was wounded in Landhi-4.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2022