The moment that marks Pakistani cricketers scoring a victory on the playgrounds of Sri Lankan also witnesses this densely populated metropolis echoing with life-threatening gunshots fired, apparently by jubilant cricket lovers.
Tuesday was no exception when the green shirts defeated the apparently confident Australians by 32 runs in a make-or-break tie in Colombo.
As soon as the Pakistani side appeared victorious, various city neighborhoods started echoing with ear-splitting aerial firing that sometimes have been lethal for the bystanders or passersby or in some cases the shooter himself. Every ball shot for a six by Pakistani batsmen or every wicket fallen on the Australian side was celebrated by the armed cricket lovers with nerves-wrecking gunshots in the air. The localities most affected were Keamari, Lyari, Landhi, Saddar, North Nazimabad, Gulistan-e-Jauhar and Gulshan-e-Iqbal.
Ironically, the shooters fired at their convenience without fearing the police. And aptly so, as this reporter observed half a dozen people in the port vicinity of Keamari firing shots in the air throughout the cricket match with the nearby situated Jackson police turning up to the shooting site not even once. As if this was not enough, a shooter told Pakistan Today that he was getting bullets from one of his friends working in the police department.
A realist critique put it more simply saying this serves a heavily-weaponised city like Karachi very right where the so-called “gun politics” has necessitated the possession and carriage of arms even for the common man. Needless to mention are the incidents of targeted killings that has now become order of the day in this volatile metropolis.
On the face of it, these gunshots are the handiwork of some cricket crazy Karachiites expressing their joy through firing multiple shots in the air, but there are some among the masses who don’t buy this impression and think otherwise.
“They by firing shots in the air on the match days test their weapons which otherwise lay unused for months,” viewed Muhammad Saeed, a Rent-A-Car proprietor from Bhutta Village area of Keamari.
Saeed’s claim was endorsed by a shooter, requesting not to be named, saying he shot because he had to check his now what he called it out-fashioned 30-bore pistol. “It’s a 25-year old pistol. I have cleaned it up and now testing its shots as it is not firing properly after lying unused for a long time,” said the shooter, who was watching the Pak-Australia duo in his shop along with friends.
Another such shooter, who introduced himself as Sabir Shah, came up with more revealing facts.
“Some people go for firing to even their bullets that are either Chinese or Pakistan made,” said Shah who himself was “checking” the bullets he possessed. Shah showed this reporter a handful of bullets that were of China-made “311” brand and that of the Pakistan made. According to Shah, the retail price of Chinese bullets was Rs 35 per piece, while the ones produced in Pakistan were being priced in local market at Rs 12 only. “There is a great difference in the quality and result of two brands and we here are checking the same,” Shah explained.
Giving an official input, Member of National Assembly (MNA) and former Sindh Information Minister Shazia Marri termed the aerial firing even as a show of celebration as “dangerous”. “It is dangerous! Celebrations not at the cost of lives obviously!,” commented Marri who said was herself very happy for Pakistan’s victory against Kangaroos.
Asked about the role of her government to stop the life-threatening practice, she proposed “some penalty” and “awareness” through the media to educate the people how to handle the national celebrations. Then the MNA turned her guns to the media saying, “It’s about time the TV channels stop wasting money in parodies and songs, there’s so much to do!” When drew towards some of the shooters’ claim that they acquire bullets from the policemen, the former information minister said such security personnel as well as the shooters should be reformed. “So they need to reform too,” she said adding, “Remember everyone is from this society. So values at large need to change or improve for better attitudes and practices!,” Marri said. Asked if she was putting the ball in the media’s court, the MNA replied that: “It’s a full circle!”
