Sialkot stampede deaths rise to two as police arrest six and name TikToker in case

SIALKOT: The death toll from the stampede at a TikToker’s mehndi ceremony in Sialkot has risen to two, and police have arrested six suspects over the incident. Sialkot police said on Sunday that 18 people were injured in the crush, and one more of them has since died at a government hospital — taking the toll from Friday night’s incident at Faraz Cricket Ground to two.

TikToker named in the case, fled the scene

According to police, TikToker Muhammad Ansar Jatt, known on social media as “Mr Pattlo”, is named in the case and fled the scene immediately after the incident. Investigation and raiding teams are working to arrest him. District Police Officer Dost Muhammad confirmed that six people involved in managing the event have been arrested, and that teams have been formed to arrest the remaining suspects using modern technology, human intelligence sources and traditional policing methods.

Fifty motorcycles and a car seized

Police have also taken into custody 50 motorcycles and a car that had been set aside for Friday’s lucky draw. The DPO said preliminary investigations found that organisers had invited a large number of people by advertising a lucky draw of motorcycles, a car and other valuable prizes on social media. During the event, an announcement over the loudspeakers told all attendees to enter the grounds at the same time — and that simultaneous entry triggered the severe stampede.

NOC revoked, FIR registered

A spokesperson for the Sialkot district administration said the TikToker had been issued a no-objection certificate for a mehfil-i-samaa, a devotional music gathering, at a private event in an enclosed space in Daska, with the programme due to begin after Isha prayers on Friday night. But reports of irregularities in the arrangements began arriving as early as 4pm, and Deputy Commissioner Awais Mushtaq revoked the NOC as a pre-emptive step. The first information report, dated October 31 and registered at Motra Police Station on the complaint of Inspector Mubeen Ahmed, names Jatt, his brother, the owner of Faraz Cricket Ground and six other organisers — nine people in all — along with 40 to 45 unidentified security guards. It invokes sections 322, 188, 148, 149, 431, 440 and 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code and Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.

DPO draws a firm line

DPO Muhammad said the organisers violated the terms of their permit and established safety procedures, and that the stampede also disrupted traffic on the main Daska-Sialkot Road. “Negligence regarding safety arrangements at any public gathering or event which puts human lives at risk cannot be permitted,” he said, adding that legal action will be taken against all those responsible, without discrimination. Friday night’s incident had initially left 30-year-old Muhammad Aqeel dead while he was being taken to hospital, with the injured shifted to Allama Iqbal Memorial Teaching Hospital.