KARACHI: At least two people were killed and over 100 others wounded in celebratory firing incidents in Karachi on the eve of Pakistan’s Independence Day, officials said on Friday.

Police Surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said a man from PIB Colony and an infant died in aerial firing incidents.

The PIB police said that Mehrab Khan,42, was having tea at a restaurant on University Road near Old Sabzi Mandi at midnight when a bullet fired from an unknown direction hit him in the chest. He was taken to a private hospital on Stadium Road where doctors pronounced him dead.

In Korangi, the police surgeon said, an infant girl was reported dead as a result of aerial firing. She said the body was brought to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, from where the family took it away without allowing doctors to complete medico-legal formalities.

79 held for aerial firing

Karachi police chief Azad Khan said a total of 102 persons were shot at and wounded in the city, adding that law enforcers took action by arresting 79 suspects. They also recovered 78 weapons from the held suspects and registered 132 FIRs.

Aerial firing incidents were reported across the city, including in Lyari, Saddar, Korangi, Malir, Azizabad, North Nazimabad, Nazimabad, Gulbahar, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Orangi Town, Jamshed Quarters and DHA.

Incidents of aerial firing are a routine occurrence on occasions such as Independence Day and New Year’s Eve despite bans imposed in the past, often leaving dozens injured.

Last year, three people, including a minor girl, were killed and over 100 others wounded in celebratory gunfire across the metropolis at midnight on Independence Day.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2026