"Papa, I’ve been shot," were the last words of a 15-year-old boy who died after being struck by a stray bullet from aerial firing as celebrations rang across Pakistan over its cricket teams Champions Trophy win.
While the nation celebrated Pakistan’s victory over arch- rivals India in the finals on Sunday, Syed Hussain Raza Zaidi fought for his life in an operation theater at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi.
The frenzied revelry transformed into a day of mourning for Syed Qazim Raza Zaidis family, who lost his eldest son, Hussain, The Express Tribune reported. It was not an isolated incident as several people were reported to have been injured in celebratory aerial firing.
Nearly a dozen people were injured in Karachi itself as residents resorted to indiscriminate aerial firing following Pakistan’s win. Several more, were reportedly injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Hussain was standing on the balcony of his house and watching fireworks in the area when he told his father, "Papa some men holding guns are firing (now) that Pakistan are the new champions."
Qazim asked his son to come inside and as soon as he turned to go in his room, he heard his son scream.
"He (Hussain) shouted Papa, mujhe goli lag gai (Papa, I have been shot)," Hussains uncle, Syed Hassan Raza Zaidi said, narrating the boys last words.
Hussains parents rushed their son to JPMC, but he had lost too much blood by the time they reached the hospital.
Doctors at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre started operating on Hussain, but he breathed his last at 2:00 am.Syed Hassan Raza Zaidi, the deceased’s uncle
The boys funeral prayers were offered at the Model Colony mosque and he was laid to rest in the Model Colony graveyard.
Also, in a separate development, police arrested Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Amanullah Mehsud for aerial firing. Mehsud was arrested and an FIR registered at the Darakhshan police station in Karachi.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)