Sialkot police arrest TikToker for allegedly threatening family of victim in event stampede

NAROWAL: Sialkot police said on Monday they have arrested TikToker Muhammad Ansar Jatt, alias “Mr Pattlo”, for allegedly threatening the family of a man who died in a stampede at his event.

Jatt had announced holding a mehndi event and prize-distribution ceremony at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road on Oct 30. However, with hundreds gathered at the site, a stampede occurred when the stadium gates opened, killing two and injuring 18 people.

Subsequently, a first information report (FIR) was registered at the Motra Police Station, naming Jatt, his brother, the owner of Faraz Cricket Ground, six others, and 40-45 unidentified security guards.

On Monday, District Police Officer (DPO) Spokesperson Khurram Shehzad confirmed the police have arrested Jatt after the brother-in-law of the deceased man filed a separate FIR at the City Daska police station today.

The DPO spokesperson said the family has accused Jatt of threatening them with serious consequences if they did not reach a compromise.

In his FIR, Mohammad Abu Bakar, a resident of Gujranwala’s Mafiwala area, said his brother-in-law Mohammad Rehan Arshad had died in the stampede at Faraz Cricket Ground.

The FIR, available with Dawn, names Jatt, his brother and four unknown persons.

It has been registered under Sections 348 (wrongful confinement to extort confession or compel restoration of property), 109 (abetment if the act abetted committed in consequence), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) and 506-B (criminal intimidation if threat be to cause death or grievous hurt) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The complainant said that on Nov 6, he was present at his “in-laws’ residence” in village Galotian along with his family to offer condolences. He claimed that at around 1pm, four unknown persons came there and began pressuring them to compromise in the first FIR registered over the stampede.

Abu Bakr claimed that on his intervention, two unknown persons took out their pistols and aimed them at him, threatening to kill him and the family members if they did not reach a peaceful settlement with Jatt and his brother.

The complainant said the unknown men had attempted to stop him from pursuing the case by threatening him.

Sialkot DPO retired Captain Dost Muhammad told Dawn that the investigation of the FIR will be completed on merit, with all requirements of justice fulfilled.

On Nov 3, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted protective — also known as transitory — bail for the TikToker until Nov 10, allowing him to avoid arrest while he approaches the relevant court to seek legal remedy. He surrendered before the court in a wheelchair.

Jatt then appeared before a Sialkot court on Nov 7, where Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Irfan Naseem Tarar ordered him to appear in court again on Nov 10 (Tuesday).