Pakistan: Tragedy in Multan rally

It had to happen one day in the long drawn out saga that comprises of the dharnas (sit-ins) and jalsas (rallies) that first took over the capital city of Islamabad and are now becoming a prominent happening in almost every major city in Pakistan. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) rally in Multan on Friday saw a huge turnout in the number of people cheering on their leader Imran Khan. When the rally ended, however, the jubilation turned to tragedy as a stampede erupted when the crowd tried to leave the stadium in which the jalsa was being held. As many as eight people were crushed and more than 40 injured when the people tried to leave through the five exits out of the stadium. There are reports that the stairs leading to and out of the open exits were also strewn with water, leading many people to slip and be stepped on by thousands of others. As can be expected, a blame game has exploded between the PTI, district administration and federal government with no one side taking any responsibility for the human cost involved.

First let us wonder about the organisers of the rally, the PTI itself. The rally was, ultimately, one held under the banner of Imran Khan’s party and much of the arrangement must have fallen upon its shoulders. During the rally, there were reports of young people fainting due to the heat and dehydration. Add to this exasperation the fact that, once the rally ended, the people may have really wanted to go home and may have made a mad dash for the exits. Could this not have created a panic in our already panic-prone people? Maybe the attendees did not follow protocol and leave in an orderly fashion. Maybe there was too much jostling and pushing. However, one must consider that the PTI is accusing the District Coordination Officer (DCO) of Multan of being behind allegedly sealing a few exits and not letting the people use them. This may very well have contributed to the panic being felt by the people. The DCO denies this and says that all exits were very much open. The PTI is now crying itself hoarse over how this tragedy has been orchestrated by the powers that be to limit attendance at their rallies. It has also rejected a three-member investigative committee formed by the Punjab government, calling it a “drama”. It has announced a financial compensation for the victims. Who is at fault one cannot say but one can comment on the inevitability of such a sorry situation. The people of the subcontinent do not have the necessary restraint to stay safe in poorly arranged gatherings. These are haphazard, hurriedly arranged events and safety protocol does not garner much priority. Amid the charges and counter-charges, it must be made clear who is to blame for the rally that turned into misfortune.