PESHAWAR: Despite campaigns launched by the police against festive firing on Eidul Fitr, a youngster died and 21 others sustained bullet injuries in different parts of the provincial capital on Sunday night.

According to residents, Imtiaz, 14, died due to head injury in Mohabbatkhel area of the erstwhile Frontier Region of Peshawar.

“The boy got hit by a stray bullet,” Malik Fida, a local resident, told Dawn, adding that the case was not reported to police since there was no one, who could be blamed. “Police contacted but the boy’s legal heirs refused to lodge a case,” Mr Fida added.

The residents said police failed to control festive firing, adding that action was required to be taken against those indulging in the menace.

Officials promise action against those involved

They said that only displaying banners on police vans could not stop this crime.

“Police have all the powers and resources and no one can escape from them,” a resident of the area said, adding if anyone refuses to lodge a case, it does not mean police should not be performing their duties since festive firing was a crime.

Also, health officials said that at least 21 persons, mostly youngsters, were injured in festive firing in different parts of the provincial capital.

According to Mohammad Asim, spokesperson of Lady Reading Hospital, the facility’s emergency section received 10 persons with bullet wounds, including head injuries.

He said that the injured persons were aged between 17 to 37 and belonged to different parts of the provincial capital. He added that all the injured persons were provided emergency treatment.

Also, the Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) administration said they received 11 persons with bullet injuries.

KTH spokesperson Sajjad Khan said all the injured persons were provided treatment.

“A bullet landed in our house. We didn’t venture out after Maghrib due to excessive firing,” Sultan Akbar, a local, said.

He said that he thought the police would visit the area in the morning if not possible on the same [Sunday] night, but nothing happened.

When contacted, police officials said that the cases of festive firing would be thoroughly investigated and action taken.

“There were clear instructions issued by the senior officials and the festive firing will not be tolerated. We will thoroughly investigate all the cases, identify those involved and lodge cases against them,” Peshawar’s SSP operations Masood Bangash said.

Meanwhile, two persons, including an Afghan national, were arrested after they opened fire at personnel of the Ababeel Squad of the city police in the jurisdiction of Faqeerabad police station on Tuesday, officials said.

They added two ‘intoxicated’ persons opened fire from a car.

“The police chased the car and arrested two persons, including an Afghan national,” SP Faqeerabad division Talal told mediapersons.

A statement issued from the city police said the Ababeel Squad personnel were on duty when they came under fire near Bacha Khan Chowk.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2025