Dawn.com, Multan :A stampede at a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) political rally in Multan on Friday left at least seven people dead and 42 others injured, hospital and rescue sources said.The stampede reportedly started as people were leaving from one of the three gates leading out of the stadium, soon after PTI Chairman Imran Khan departed after addressing supporters.The injured were taken to Nishtar Hospital following the incident.”A total of seven dead bodies have been brought in and 42 were injured due to a stampede after the PTI procession,” said Parvez Haider, Director of Emergency at Nistar Hospital.District Coordination Officer Zahid Saleem Gondal told reporters that all the five gates of the stadium were open. He said the PTI had given a written undertaking to manage all matters, including lights, inside the stadium.He said it all happened when a large number of people tried to cross the gate in one go. In the process several people fell on the ground and were trampled by others.The DCO said the chief minister had ordered an inquiry into the incident.Vehicles of Rescue 1122 and fire brigade reached the place soon after the incident and rescue operation was carried out without any delay, he claimed. Water cannon was used to disperse the people for smooth rescue operation.Speaking to DawnNews, PTI leader Imran Ismail said: “We had not expected so many people would be arriving here for the rally. Shah Mehmood Qureshi and other PTI leaders are now at the hospital, and we are hoping the injured get better soon.”PTI leader Shireen Mazari blamed the police and local administration for the incident.”We believe it is a total failure of the administration. We saw ourselves how people moved aside as spectators, and the crowd was standing on the seats. This is a very unfortunate incident, and it would not have happened if the police had cooperated,” she told DawnNews.Mazari claimed that participants of the rally had difficulty leaving the venue as the doors leading out had been locked down by the local administration.
