International Desk: At least 11 people died in a stampede at a Zakat distribution center in Pakistan’s Karachi province. The zakat was being distributed among the families of employees of a private company in the Sindh Industrial and Trading Estate (SITE) area of Karachi on Friday. Police surgeon Dr. Sumaiya Saeed said 11 bodies were taken to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. Among them, nine are women and two are boys. Khabar Tribune, Jio News.
Fida Hussain, senior superintendent of police in Karachi’s Kiamari district, said FK Dyeing Company asked their employees’ family members to come and collect zakat.
Describing the situation, he also said that there are hundreds of women who have not received zakat. And fearing a huge crowd, the company staff closed the factory gates. There was no arrangement for those who had gathered inside to take zakat. The local police were also not informed about the distribution of zakat.
The superintendent of police, Fida Hussain, said some women fell unconscious due to the heat and rush in the crowd.
Sindh Chief Minister Saeed Ghani has said that seven people have been arrested in the incident. He also commented that the administration should be informed in cases of distribution or social welfare work.
Gani expressed grief for those who lost their lives while collecting Zakat and ordered to take the injured to hospital.
Former President Imran Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Fawad Chowdhury said that the “real example” of the plight of Pakistan’s economic situation has come to light through the incident.
