KARACHI, April 9: Leaders and representatives from a cross-section of society have expressed grief and sorrow over the Faizan-i-Madina tragedy in which dozens of women and children lost their lives and scores of them received injuries. Offering their heartfelt condolences, in their separate statements, they prayed to the Almighty Allah to rest the souls in peace and grant courage and fortitude to the members of bereaved families. They also prayed for early recovery of the injured.
Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, besides offering condolences, directed the officials to provide best possible treatment to the injured for their early recovery.
He also announced financial assistance of Rs 100,000 each for the deceased families and Rs 30,000 each to the injured.
Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim expressed profound grief and sorrow over the loss of many precious lives in the stampede.
The chief minister also issued directives for conducting an inquiry into the causes of the incident, besides ensuring provision of every possible facility for the treatment of the injured.
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain condoled with the bereaved families and said he and his colleagues were grieved over the tragedy.
Mr Hussain demanded of the government to make immediate arrangements for the treatment of the injured and for taking effective measures so that no such tragedy occurs in future.
City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal, who is on an official visit to Malaysia, made a phone call to the central leader of Dawat-i-Islami, Yaqub Attari, and expressed his sorrow over the tragedy and assured him of city government’s full cooperation.
He also contacted the DCO Karachi Fazl-ur-Rehman and asked him to rush to the spot.
The DCO, after summoning the officials, declared emergency in all the city government hospitals.
Acting City Nazim Nasreen Jalil also expressed her sorrow and grief over the tragedy. She also rushed to hospitals on getting the sad news.
Talking to newsmen, Nasreen Jalil said that all expenses on treatment of the injured would be born by the City Government.
The CDGK has set up a camp at Faizan-e-Madina where information regarding victims can be obtained, besides other support.
She also prayed for Eisal-i-Sawab of the departed souls and expeditious recovery of the injured.
Jamaat-i-Islami Karachi chief Dr Mairajul Huda Siddiqui and the chief of JI women chapter, Anjum Afshan, in their statements, had also offered their condolence and said that every one was grieved over the tragedy.
The All-Pakistan Shia Action Committee offered its condolences and expressed sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for Allah’s blessings on the deceased women and children.
The committee observed that as they all had come to attend Mehfil-i-Milad Mustafa (SAW), which was a great form of worship, their passing away was certainly no less than a blessing.
The committee also appealed to the Muslims to commemorate Jashn-i-Milad-i-Mustafa (SAW), with due stature and create unity in their ranks and file and foil all attempts of the enemies of Islam and conspiracy of desecration of the status of our prophet.
Those present at the meeting were Allama Mirza Yusuf Hussain, Allama Ghulam Ali Arfi, Allama Mohammad Hussain Karimi, Syed Mustafa Abbas Rizvi, Syed Ali Osat Zaidi, Syed Ali Safdar Rizvi, Syed Ali Anwar Jafri, Sohail Raza and Hasan Abbas Rizvi. The information secretary of the PPP Women Wing, Sindh MPA Shazia Marri expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives that occurred as the result of a stampede at the Faizan-i-Madina.
