In a move that has shocked millions of Pakistanis, twelve people were crushed to death in a stampede during the distribution of Zakat among the families of employees working at a private company in Karachi’s Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate (SITE) area on Friday.
The incident has sent shocking waves across the country with millions pointing fingers at poor arrangements at food distribution centers across countries.
A spokesperson for Keamari police confirmed the death of 12 people during a stampede and said five others received multiple injuries and were rushed to the nearby hospitals.
The government of Sindh province has initiated an inquiry to fix responsibility. while further investigation was underway, The Islamabad Telegraph learned that most of the victims were women between 40 to 50 years of age.
Speaking to journalists, South Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Irfan Ali Baloch said that another woman had died, taking the death toll to 12.
Police Surgeon Dr. Summaiya Syed told The Islamabad telegraph that three children were among the dead.
Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fida Husain Janwari told a correspondent of The Islamabad Telegraph that the FK Dyeing company, located in the SITE area, had invited the families of its employees in order to distribute Zakat among them.
Following the invitation, the management Keamari Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fida Husain Janwari said that the FK Dyeing company, located in the SITE area, had invited the families of its employees in order to distribute Zakat among them.
“ Around 400 women turned up at the site to get zakat. The staff at the site had to close the main gate after a large number of people arrived at the site. Insiders told The Islamabad Telegraph that inside the premises there were no arrangements in place for making a queue, adding that local police were also not informed about the activity.
When contacted, SSP Janwari told a correspondent of The Islamabad Telegraph that several women fainted from the heat and the stampede. He said police contingents rushed to the spot, detained some of the employees on charges of negligence and shifted the women to different hospitals. “Reportedly, the company’s owner was not present,” he said.
South DIG Baloch further said the company used to distribute Zakat and other items among the poor in Ramazan. He said that today was the third day the company was distributing alms, adding that between 400 to 500 people turned up.
He said that the factory owner, identified as Zulfiqar, would be arrested soon.
Keamari Deputy Commissioner Mukhtiar Abro revealed on Friday that the owner of the factory had not obtained a no-objection certificate from the district administration and had also not asked for security.
He said that seven employees had been arrested and a case would be registered against them. He said that the owner would also be held accountable at any cost.
CM takes notice of killings in stampede
Local media reports quoted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah as saying that the CM has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Iqbal Memon.
“The administration should be informed about any distribution of ration and welfare work,” the chief minister said and expressed grief over the lives lost in the incident. He directed officials to move the injured to the hospital quoted the minister.
Expressing his grief following the shocking incident on Friday, the CM announced that the provincial government would give the families of the dead Rs500,000 as compensation while the injured would get Rs100,00He said that “around 400 women” had arrived and feared a large crowd, the company staff closed the doors. He said that inside the premises there were no arrangements in place for making a queue, adding that local police were also not informed about the activity.
According to SSP Janwari said that several women fainted from the heat and the stampede. He said police contingents rushed to the spot, detained some of the employees on charges of negligence, and shifted the women to different hospitals. “Reportedly, the company’s owner was not present,” he said.
South DIG Baloch told reporters that the company used to distribute Zakat and other items among the poor in Ramazan. He said that today was the third day the company was distributing alms, adding that between 400 to 500 people turned up.
He said that the factory owner, identified as Zulfiqar, would be arrested soon.
Keamari Deputy Commissioner Mukhtiar Abro said that the owner of the factory had not obtained a no-objection certificate from the district administration and had also not asked for security.
He said seven employees had been arrested and a case would be registered against them. He said that the owner would also be held accountable
