KARACHI, April 27: The Town Police Officer, Gulshan-i-Iqbal has submitted his report to the Capital City Police Officer on the Faizan-i-Madina incident of April 9 according to which there was no arrangement for first-aid, fire-fighting or to cope with any emergency at the congregation hall of the mosque.
The number of devotees attending the congregation at that time was more than 15,000. When the mob came out of the congregation hall located in the basement of the mosque, and about one tenth of the mob passed on peacefully, a girl fell down at the exit gate. The passing women stopped to pick the girl up, but the mob coming from the basement, which was totally unaware of the fall of the girl, did not stop and pushed the women to their front. Some women fell down and it led to a stampede.
The report further stated that there are five exit gates in the mosque but at present only three were used for entry and exit, one of which was specified for women. The congregation was held in the basement hall, which had five gates of which two are meant for ablution and two were completely closed. There is only one gate used for entry and exit for basement hall. Keeping in view the holy occasion of Eid Miladun Nabi and presence of 15,000 devotees, only one gate for both purposes was insufficient.
The TPO’s report stated that there was no particular instance to motivate or flare up the mob of ladies.
The report appreciated the role of police, other civil agencies and Edhi and Cheepa ambulance service during the rescue operation.—PPI
