Pakistans new year events were marred by traditional shooting by the exuberant revellers in several huge cities, injuring a minimum of 22 people, consisting of kids and women, in the Karachi metropolis.As the clock struck midnight to reveal the arrival of the new year on Saturday, the port city resonated with the sounds of heavy gunfire.According to Pakistan tv network Geo television, a number of people, including a kid and women, were hurt in the aerial firing in different parts of Karachi despite a restriction on the screen of firearms.Sources from the healthcare facilities stated eight people with injuries were admitted to the Civil Hospital, four to Jinnah Hospital, and 10, consisting of females and children, were required to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for treatment.So far 13 individuals have actually been jailed in connection with the firing in Korangi, three of whom have actually been charged with tried murder.The channel even more reported that Karachiites took to the streets and roads to commemorate the new year.

The Five Star Chowrangi was thronged by individuals in a joyful mood.

Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori was likewise seen joining the masses to see fireworks at the Numaish Chowrangi.Other sites that were thronged by individuals to witness the yearly celebration included Clifton Seaview, Do Darya, Bahria Town and Bagh Ibn Qasim.

Individually, numerous clubs, hotels and organisations also organised fireworks to invite 2023.

Comparable reports of celebrations were likewise received from Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Incidents of injuries due to gunfire were likewise reported from Lahore but it was individually confirmed.The new year celebrations have been controversial in Pakistan as clerics look down on the revelries and consider it a sin to imitate western culture.

However, for many years a boost has been seen in the number of people requiring to the streets to celebrate this annual event.Traditionally, club-carrying activists of right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami would interfere with the event of youths and roam on the streets of big cities to scare individuals away.

Nevertheless, they too have softened their pious work with the passage of time.President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif felicitated the nation and global community at the beginning of the New Year and wished the advancement, development and prosperity of Pakistan along with peace in the world.In their different messages, they stressed the need to interact to make Pakistan the cradle of peace, success and development, according to their official statements.The President in his message stated the nation dealt with numerous obstacles in 2015 however overcame difficult situations due to hard work, sacrifice, determination and durability.

In the new year, as a nation we need to set our top priorities properly to conquer the challenges dealing with the country, he said.The Prime Minister in his message hoped that the brand-new year would show to be the year of ending hunger, war, terrorism, crime, sectarianism and class division from the whole world, including Pakistan.The Prime Minister reiterated his resolve to burn the midnight oil for enhancement of the economic circumstance of the nation, rehabilitation of flood victims, end of terrorism and decrease in sufferings of the people.

Source - PTI-Agencies.

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