• 16 women among 20 injured at Keamari distribution centre
• CS orders assessment of arrangements at all BISP centres
• GDA, SUP condemn govt for hurting people’s self-respect

KARACHI: A woman died and several others suffered injuries and fainted in a stampede during cash disbursement at a Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) centre in Keamari on Monday, officials said.

The incident sparked widespread condemnation from several opposition parties in the province which demanded that the government stop “insulting” people and adopt a procedure that would not hurt their self-respect.

The BISP had suspended payment of the stipend amount across the country for two days due to harsh weather. When it resumed its operations on Monday, a large number of women thronged KPT Ground to collect their money.

Jackson SHO Babar Hameed told Dawn around 2,000 to 3,000 women from Machhar Colony, Musharraf Colony, Kharadar and Mithadar and other areas gathered at the lone BISP centre for the entire Keamari district.

Keamari-SSP Fida Husain Janwari said that a large number of people lined up outside the centre and waited for their turn amid hot and humid weather.

He said a stampede broke out when someone pushed the main gate, which was apparently not locked, and almost everyone tried to enter when the gate was opened.

The SSP said that around two dozen people, mostly women, fell and suffered serious injuries. However, the situation was brought under control when policemen deputed there rushed to the scene, stopped the people and called ambulances.

He said that all the injured were shifted to the Dr Ruth Pfau Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) for treatment.

Police Surgeon Summaiya Syed said that one of the 17 injured women died at the CHK during treatment. She identified the victim as Shakeela, 40.

She said that 20 others — 16 women and four men — were treated at the CHK and all of them suffered minor injuries.

Cash distribution only from banks

Later, the BISP centre resumed its operations and a large number of women collected their stipend.

A BISP spokesperson announced that all especial camps would be closed from Tuesday (today) and stipend would be disbursed via banks only till Wednesday.

He said the distribution would start again on July 3 after Eid holidays.

He said that around nine million families across the country were being provided Rs9,000 each on a quarterly basis.

Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Sohail Rajput took notice of the stampede in Keamari and directed the Karachi commissioner to assess the situation at all BISP centres located in the city.

“Effective arrangements should be taken in view of hot weather and rush of the people,” he said, directing: “BISP funds should be distributed in the presence of areanotables.”

Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, an elected MNA from the same constituency, also directed BISP director general Imtiaz Shah not to distribute cash in the absence of local notables.

GDA, SUP condemn govt

The Grand Democratic Alliance and Sindh United Party condemned the federal government for taking poor measures that led to the Keamari incident.

GDA secretary general Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi said in a statement that women’s dignity was being violated at BISP centres.

He pointed out that an infant died recently in scorching heat in Dokri taluka in Larkana. He alleged that certain relatives of PPP leaders, MNAs and MPAs became “BISP agents” and collected and gave money to deserving women after deducting their stipend.

SUP president Zain Shah also condemned the federal government for what it called not taking care of the self-respect of the people.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2023