Police in Sialkot have arrested six people and charged TikToker Ansar Mehmood, known as Mr Patlo, and others after a stampede at his mehndi ceremony killed two people and injured several more.
Police said that Mr Patlo and other suspects have fled and that they are working to arrest them.
Mr Patlo runs multiple TikTok accounts and earns money from TikTok Live. He had been holding wedding celebrations for several days and sharing photos and videos from them on his social media accounts.
The police FIR [First Information Report] names nine suspects, including Mr Patlo, and 45 unidentified people. The charges include causing death by negligence, violating government orders, vandalism, incitement and unlawful assembly.
According to the FIR, the mehndi ceremony took place Saturday evening at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road. Mr Patlo had used social media to invite people with the promise of multiple prizes, including motorcycles and a car, leading to a large crowd gathering at the venue.
The FIR says Mr Patlo went on stage and told everyone to enter the ground immediately. The crowd surged in, causing a stampede. A man named Aqeel died at the scene.
Another injured man, Rehan, was referred to a hospital in Lahore in critical condition but died there Sunday.
Police said Mr Patlo’s team advertised on social media that it would give out 20 million rupees to the public, along with a car, 50 motorcycles, mobile phones and other expensive gifts. People from Gujranwala, Gujrat, Wazirabad, Mandi Bahauddin and Narowal came to the stadium, many of them well before the scheduled start.
A video circulating on social media shows a large crowd outside the stadium suddenly trying to push inside. Security guards try to block them, and some use batons to push people back.
Rescue 1122 and other emergency teams reached the scene soon after the stampede and took the injured to hospital.
The district administration said that it had issued a permit for the event at Faraz Sports Stadium but later cancelled it for violating conditions. A spokesperson said that the no-objection certificate covered a private function inside an enclosed venue on Daska Road, including a devotional music gathering, and set the start time after Isha prayers.
Around 4pm, the administration received reports of violations in the event arrangements. The deputy commissioner cancelled the certificate before the event began.
The chaos disrupted traffic on main Daska-Sialkot road. Police also reported unrest and damage to residents’ property.
