MULTAN: As an inquiry committee constituted by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif arrived here and began investigations on Saturday, an initial report by the local police chief held the organisers of PTI’s public meeting responsible for Friday’s stampede in which seven people were killed and over 40 injured.

According to sources, the initial report was sent to the prime minister and chief minister by the Multan police chief.

The inquiry committee comprising provincial Environment Secretary Iqbal Muhammad Chohan, Home Department’s Special Secretary Shoaib Akbar and Deputy Inspector General Ali Amir Malik visited the Qila Kuhna Qasim Bagh, where the incident had taken place.

Lohari Gate police registered initial report on the incident under Section 174 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

PTI, district administration, Hashmi embroiled in blame game

The funeral prayers of the victims were held in various areas. The funeral prayers for Salman and Muavia were held at Siddiqia Park and attended by senior politician Javed Hashmi and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s vice chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Slogans were raised against both the leaders by some people after the prayers.

The funeral prayers for Saleemullah were offered at Qasim Bela, Allah Ditta at Dunyapur in Lodhran district, Mohammad Azam at Qasba Marral and Riaz Manjhota at Sanjar Syedaan.

The body of Salman, of Jahanian, was sent to his hometown in Khanewal district from the Nishtar Hospital.

BLAME GAME: Addressing a press conference, Mr Hashmi, who recently left the PTI over differences with its leadership, demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident and blamed the organisers for the tragedy.

He said the public meeting had been held to influence the by-elections for the National Assembly seat vacated by him, NA-149.

He said a majority of the victims did not belong to the PTI and had gone to the event as spectators.

He said the arrangements for the gathering had been made by the Ghausia Jamaat and some of its members had also chanted slogans against him.

Mr Hashmi said he had suspended his campaign for the by-elections to express solidarity with the victims’ families.

“When a party is not contesting the elections, why the public gathering was held before the polls and why the situation of the city is being made tense,” he wondered.

He said slogans had been chanted against Mr Qureshi during the funeral prayers and the families of the victims intended to lodge a case against PTI leaders.

Mr Hashmi said PTI chairman Imran Khan had not been informed about the incident immediately, even though his plane took off from Multan about 45 minutes after the rally.

He said he would ask the chief minister to announce compensation for those killed and injured in the incident.

For his part, Mr Qureshi once again blamed the district administration and police for the incident.

At a press conference, he said the life of Mr Khan had been put in danger and he could have been the target of terrorists, as the stampede was not accidental but “planned”.

He said he and Mr Khan had to climb a pole to reach the high stage and the incident was the result of incompetence of the district administration.

He said it was the district government which had suggested that the gathering be held at the Qila Kuhna Qasim Bagh Stadium.

He alleged that the government was finding excuses to escape from the by-elections.

Mr Qureshi said the PTI chairman would visit the victims’ families on Sunday and the administration would be responsible if any untoward incident took place then.

According to the district administration, the permission for the gathering had been granted on an application submitted by the PTI’s district chief Ejaz Janjua who had also signed a 27-point agreement.

Under Clause 17 of the agreement, the organisers were responsible for peaceful dispersal of the participants.

Clause 18 said the distance between the participants and the stage would be 80 feet and Clause 24 said the organisers would provide the list of people who would go on the stage.

The administration said the organisers had failed to fulfil those clauses.

According to witnesses, a person fell unconscious during the speech of Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid. Later, announcements were made by DJ Butt that people were falling unconscious and water and ambulances were needed.

As many as five people were taken to the stage during the speeches of Mr Rashid, Mr Qureshi and Mr Khan.

Mr Qureshi was informed that people were fainting due to suffocation, while Mr Khan also noticed a person fall unconscious during his speech and asked people to bring him up the stage.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2014