Karachi: A trader, whose attempts to
distribute free ration among the poor led to a big stampede
here that killed at least 20 people many of them women, has
been released on bail.
Chaudhary Iftkhar had been released on personal bail
by a session court after he was arrested yesterday from the
site of the tragedy, police said.
Iftikhar was distributing free ration bags in a
congested old locality at Ghari Khata in Karachi, when the
stampede took place killing 20 people including 14 women and
children.
"The stampede was caused by a heavy rush of women who
wanted to get their hands on the ration bags as soon as the
distribution started. Since the distribution centre was
located on the second floor and there is just a narrow
staircase leading to it the women were crushed or suffocated
to death when the stampede occurred," a police official said.
He said that while Iftikhar had honest and noble
intentions in distributing the ration, his method was faulty
which could have caused the stampede.
"We have registered a case of negligence leading to
death against him," he said.
After the stampede the government has come under
criticism and pressure for not doing enough to reduce poverty
and stop hoarders from disrupting the easy supply of sugar
and wheat in the open market.
Police said the people of the area didn't blame
Iftkhar for the stampede and said he had been distributing
free ration during holy month of Ramazan for years.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2009, 20:10