Investigative story was published by Pakistan Today on May 9, 2017
Victim Waseem filed an application for registration of FIR against Salman Iqbal, Malik Riaz holding them responsible
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Friday took suo motu notice of the Bahria Enclave incident on evening April 28, where the recording of “Eidi sab kay Liye” was being recorded and an artificial stadium collapsed which took two lives and left dozens paralysed.
The CJP took notice of the Pakistan Today report which mentioned that two people died in that incident. CJP also issued directives to Islamabad chief commissioner and IGP to submit an inquiry report into the incident within 48 hours.
It is worthy to mention here that as of yet, no FIR has been registered, no formal inquiry into the negligence was conducted by either the Islamabad police or the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration despite the passage of 15 days.
The incident remained absent from media highlight, whereas authorities remained reluctant to help the victims. No media outlet aired it amidst the pressure of Bahria Town management and the business tycoon.
While talking, Supreme Court (SC) Public Relation Officer Shahid Kamboh acknowledged that Pakistan Today had reported the deadly incident in detail, which claimed two lives and injured dozens of people. Subsequently, some other newspapers and media outlets also aired it which led to a suo motu, he said.
CJP has also asked the Islamabad deputy commissioner why NOC was issued without ensuring that proper arrangements in case of emergency are in place. Why the ICT deputy commissioner failed to form an inquiry committee to look into the matter, he asked. The question still stands.
The victims held a press conference at National Press Club Islamabad on Friday, highlighting their grievances before the authorities and asked them to register an FIR into the matter.
Subsequently, the victims registered their application with the Nilor police station. Syed Waseem Abbas in his application to Nilor police held management of ARY and its owner Salman Iqbal and the management of Bahria Town and its owner Malik Riaz responsible for this incident, which was not a result of any earthquake—then claimed by the management—but falling off the sitting stand was criminal negligence of the organisers and shutting down the lights which resulted in worsening of our injuries was a deliberate act to cause further harm. “It is, therefore, requested that FIR may be registered against the accused persons under section 337 and 349 PPC,” reads the application, available with Pakistan Today.
He stated that his wife Syeda Anum Hasan got her both legs paralysed due to spinal cord injury.
When contacted, he said that he shifted his wife to PIMS on his own, where she was being treated. There were no emergency equipment, ambulances and way out for that big show, which raises many eyebrows.
“No one is held responsible for that? What can one say about the rules and regulations in the capital,” he lamented.
Due to a carelessly organised programme “Eidi sab kay liye” of the channel ARY Zindagi at Bahria Enclave, the whole stadium, where around 3,500 people were sitting, fell down on the audience on April 28 around 8pm, causing two deaths and leaving dozens of individuals paralysed for life.
During an investigation, some eyewitnesses told Pakistan Today that during the programme, all of a sudden the stage collapsed; resultantly, many of the audience members were stuck under the heavy stage and people were crushed in the stampede.
Victims claimed that instead of providing medical aid to the victims, the management staff of the event escaped from the site and turned the lights off, making it difficult to carry out rescue activities. The injured were reportedly not provided proper medical treatment, as the capital city administration allegedly seemed reluctant to take any action in accordance with the law.
Participants said that more than a hundred people were shouting for help as they were stuck in the debris, suffering major fractures.
An officer at PIMS said that, in PIMS alone, 108 injured people were being treated.
Sameena Adnan, wife of Ali Adnan Rizvi and mother of three children, died on May 4, six days after the incident. Sameena suffered spinal cord injuries in which her backbone was completely damaged and paralysed.
Her husband Ali, while talking to Pakistan Today, said that he brought his wife, three children along with three relatives’ families to the show—which was supposed to be an indoor show, as per recordings available on the internet—scheduled to start at 5 pm but they arrived at 7:30 pm.
“As we were a late comer, luckily, I sent my children to bring some refreshment and after 15 minutes, the stage collapsed and my wife got paralysed. After begging help for long, Sameena along with seven other patients was brought to PIMS hospital where she was treated,” he said.
Another victim Syed Zaheer Abbas Kazmi said that he was injured in that incident and got his right leg fractured as well as 14 stitches on his face, adding that due to his absence from work, he was fired from the job.
“Four of our family members got injured. My sister-in-law also suffered a spinal cord injury and was paralysed as a result. She was treated in PIMS and was discharged two days ago, and still not feeling well,” he said.
Zara Adil, the wife of Muhammad Adil, was pregnant and had a miscarriage as she fell down from 22-feet-stage and got paralysed for entire life, said her roommate of PIMS.
Victims alleged that the powerful business tycoon Malik Riaz bribed the media to not highlight the story.
According to the video, available with Pakistan Today, many people who got injured were screaming for help.
When contacted, a personal staff officer of Bahria Town retired Lt Col Khalilur Rehman claimed that Bahria Enclave management has rented out the premises and have no stake in it. Bahria management has nothing to do with the incident; the organisers are responsible, he said.
Repeated attempts were made to contact Malik Riaz through his secretary but he was not available for comment.
