A seven-year-old girl celebrating the New Year in Karachi was wounded by a stray bullet from aerial firing.
The child, Fareeha, was standing on the balcony of her home near Safoora with other children, filming fireworks when she suddenly collapsed.
A viral video of the incident shows her happily recording the display moments before she is struck and begins crying in pain.
At first, she and her family assumed she had been hit by a firecracker, but an X-ray later revealed a bullet lodged in her shoulder. Doctors say surgery has not yet been carried out, and she has been shifted between private and government hospitals for treatment. Police say they have contacted the family, though an FIR has not yet been registered.
The footage triggered widespread outrage on social media, with users condemning the rampant aerial firing that turns festive nights into scenes of panic in hospitals. Police have once again warned that firing into the air is a criminal offence and said an investigation is underway to identify those responsible.
Fareeha’s case is one of at least 28 reported injuries caused by stray bullets across Karachi as New Year 2026 began.
Hospital and rescue officials said the wounded included six women and two young girls, who were taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Civil Hospital Karachi, and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Among them were:
Other victims of celebratory gunfire included Shameem Umar (55) in Gulzar-e-Hijri Scheme 33, Meraj Bano (53) in Lines Area, Ajwa (24) near Chandni Chowk in Azam Basti, and Drees Shafiq (35) in Gulistan-e-Jauhar Block 2.
Rescue reports also listed Mukhtiar in Chanesar Goth, Nabeel (33) in Golimar, Naik Muhammad (40) near New Sabzi Mandi, and Ahmed (20) in Korangi No. 5 among the injured.
Further cases surfaced from Pak Colony (30-year-old Muhammad Aslam), Azam Basti (35-year-old Khaliq Masih), Five Star Chowrangi (16-year-old Kaasham Kumar), and Johar Mor (65-year-old Zaheer).
In Liaquatabad near Sindhi Hotel, Faizan (18) was hurt, while Jan Bahadur (40) was wounded in Lea Market. Near Kala Pul, Safdar Shah (35) was hit, and Azmat Ali (25) was struck in Musa Colony, Gulberg.
Additional victims included Mubeen (26) near Jona Mosque in Lyari, Hassan (18) in Korangi No. 4, Aasim (40) in Mauripur, Salamat Masih in Manzoor Colony, and Shehzad on Kashmir Road.
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