Qureshi blames district administration for Multan tragedy

MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman, Shah Mehmood Qureshi blamed the district administration for the Multan tragedy.

Seven PTI workers were killed and dozens injured after participants of a party rally rushed to the outer gates of the Qasim Bagh Stadium causing a stampede.

During a news conference, Qureshi called Deputy Commissioner Multan a liar and said the DCO was misrepresenting facts. He added that the tragedy was a pre-planned conspiracy.



Qureshi said he had spoken with CPO Multan the night before the rally and informed him that the police was responsible for providing security. The PTI leader alleged that the police made people get onto the stage.

According to Qureshi the district administration placed the life of PTI Chairman Imran Khan in danger by removing the ladder from the stage.

The PTI leader further said the police was responsible for opening the gate at the time of the stampede. He added that the administration was responsible for providing ambulances.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi clarified that the PTI was not responsible for the gates and the police should have controlled the situation at the time of the stampede.

The PTI Vice Chairman said that after the Model Town tragedy, Shahbaz Sharif had carried out the Multan tragedy.

Qureshi told reporters Imran Khan will be visiting Multan on Saturday to offer condolences to the families of the victims. He added that the DCO would be held responsible if there was any untoward incident during Imran Khan’s visit.

In a statement on Friday, DCO Multan, Zahid Gondal said the rally’s organisers had submitted an undertaking that they would be responsible for internal security. He said the organisers had restricted the district administration and the police from interfering in the internal arrangements of the meeting.