Case has been registered against Mahmood in Sialkot on charges of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and rioting
ISLAMABAD:
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted protective bail to TikToker Anser Mahmood, alias “Mr Patlu“, who was nominated in a case registered over culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, rioting and the death of one person and injuries to several others in a stampede.
A prize draw at a TikToker’s wedding celebration on Sunday turned deadly after a stampede at Faraz Ground in Daska left two people dead and 17 others injured.
The court directed the suspect to approach the relevant court by November 10. Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar heard the protective bail petition filed by Mahmood. The petitioner arrived at the court in a wheelchair, accompanied by his counsel, Barrister Qasim Nawaz Abbasi.
Read: Stampede at TikToker’s mehndi kills two, injures 17
The petition stated that a case had been registered against him at the Motra Police Station in Sialkot district on charges of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and rioting, following an incident in which one person was killed and several others were injured in a stampede.
The petitioner argued that the IHC had the authority to grant protective bail to enable him to approach the relevant court for pre-arrest bail without examining the merits of the case. Accepting the request, the court granted him protective bail until November 10.
On Sunday, a crowd had gathered for Mahmood’s mehndi ceremony, after he had announced a prize draw featuring cars, motorcycles and cash rewards to attract participants and publicise the event.
The rush at the entrance gate triggered a stampede, during which several people fell to the ground and were trampled underfoot.
One of the victims, Aqeel, a resident of Budha Goraya, died at the scene, while 18 people were initially injured and shifted to hospitals. Among the injured was Rehan, a resident of Glotian Kalan, whose condition was critical.
He was referred to Lahore’s Mayo Hospital but later succumbed to his injuries, taking the death toll to two and leaving 17 others injured.
Police registered a case at Motra Police Station on their own complaint under Sections 322, 431, 440, 188, 109, 148 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code, along with Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
The first information report named nine people, including Mahmood, Kashif, ground owner Haji Shahid Javed and other organisers Daniyal, Munir Ahmed, Mohsin Ali, Irshad Ali, Abdullah and Zohaib Mansha. Another 40 to 45 unidentified security guards had also been included in the case.
