SIALKOT: A local court on Tuesday cancelled the interim bail of TikToker Muhammad Ansar Jatt, popularly known as Mr Patlo, after he failed to appear for a hearing in the case involving a deadly stampede at his mehndi ceremony.
Jatt had been arrested a day earlier in a separate case over allegations that he and his associates threatened the family of one of the victims to force them into settling the stampede case.
The stampede occurred on October 30 at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road, where a large crowd had gathered for a mehndi ceremony and prize draw announced by the TikToker. The situation turned deadly when organisers opened the gates, triggering a rush of people.
Two people, Muhammad Aqeel and Muhammad Rehan Arshad, were killed, while 18 others were injured.
An FIR was registered at Motra police station against Jatt, his brother, the ground owner, six other organisers and dozens of unidentified security guards. The charges included culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and rioting.
Jatt had obtained protective bail from the Islamabad High Court on November 3, valid until November 10. He subsequently secured interim bail from an additional sessions judge in Daska and appeared before the court in a wheelchair.
However, after he failed to attend the next hearing on Tuesday, the court cancelled his interim bail.
In a separate development, Sadar Daska police arrested Jatt on Monday following a complaint filed by Mohammad Abu Bakar, brother-in-law of deceased Rehan Arshad.
According to the complaint, four unidentified men visited the victim’s family home in village Galotian on November 6 and pressured them to reach a settlement in the original case. When Abu Bakar intervened, two of the men allegedly pulled out pistols and threatened to kill him and other family members if they refused to compromise with Jatt and his brother.
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Police registered a separate FIR under sections dealing with criminal intimidation, wrongful confinement and abetment.
Police said investigations into both cases were under way and would be conducted on merit. Six people had already been arrested in connection with the stampede.
Jatt is expected to be produced before a local court in the threats case.
