SAHIWAL: As many as 35 pilgrims were injured in a stampede during the ongoing 786th annual Urs of Baba Farid Ganj Shakar at Nageena Chowk in Pakpattan city late on Saturday night.

Rescue 1122 confirmed that 25 of the injured, mostly men and youths, were shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital, while the remaining victims received treatment on the spot.

The incident occurred when hundreds of devotees gathered in front of the entrance gate at Nageena Chowk rushed forward after police briefly opened the gate to allow a convoy of police vehicles carrying senior officials to pass.

According to eyewitnesses and CCTV footage, the entrance gates established for pilgrims near Nageena Chowk - approximately 1.2 kilometres from the shrine of Baba Farid - provide access to the historic Bahishti Darwaza, which opened on Saturday evening.

Witnesses said the crowd surged when police opened the gate for the vehicle convoy, triggering panic and a rush among thousands of devotees eager to move closer to the shrine. Many pilgrims had travelled from different areas and were waiting in queues at the iron gate at Nageena Chowk to cross the Bahishti Darwaza. As the gate opened, people broke from the queues and rushed toward the shrine entrance.

Reports suggest police resorted to a light baton charge, causing several devotees to fall.

Rescue officials said severe congestion prevented ambulances from reaching the area, forcing rescuers to transport many injured persons on emergency motorcycles. Rescue sources also reported that around two dozen devotees fainted due to heat, suffocation, and overcrowding. Four were hospitalised, while others received treatment at the scene.

Deputy Commissioner Asif Raza told Dawn that all injured pilgrims had been discharged from the DHQ Hospital by Sunday morning after receiving treatment.

He said district authorities, in collaboration with line departments - including district police, Rescue 1122, Safe City, Civil Defence, Boy Scouts, District Health Authority, Municipal Corporation, Auqaf Department, and Suthra Punjab workers - had devised a comprehensive route management plan for pilgrims.

Temporary transport terminals were established at Jamal Chowk, New Grain Market, and near Al Hamra Hotel on Sahiwal Road. Pilgrims were directed through a pedestrian corridor covering approximately 1.2 kilometres before reaching the shrine entrance.

The panic at Nageena Chowk continued for nearly two hours before the situation was brought under control by Suthra Punjab workers, police, Rescue 1122 personnel, Civil Defence volunteers, Scouts, and local citizens.

Sources within the district administration disclosed that, due to security concerns, authorities had established devotees’ entry points between 1.2 and 1.5 kilometres from the shrine entrance. Pilgrims were required to disembark from vehicles and proceed on foot through designated iron queues and pedestrian routes.

Special transport arrangements were made for elderly and disabled pilgrims, operating between various entrance points and the shrine gate. However, many observers believed that the long walking distance contributed to congestion and panic on the first day of the Bahishti Darwaza opening.

Several local journalists complained that despite being issued security clearance cards, they were repeatedly stopped by police personnel from covering the Urs proceedings.

Speaking to this correspondent, DC Asif Raza said police had been instructed to ensure the controlled movement of devotees from all entry points toward the shrine gates.

DPO Javed Chadhar said 1,692 police personnel, including DSPs and ASPs, had been deployed in three shifts.

MURDER: An elderly woman was killed during a violent attack allegedly carried out by three brothers and their accomplices over a dispute involving her son at village 9/14-L on Saturday night.

Reports said Amna Majeed, a retired schoolteacher, lived in a joint family with her elderly mother, sister, and other relatives. A few days earlier, her brother, Umair Majeed, had reportedly quarrelled with Adnan Akram at a village crossing.

Seeking revenge, Adnan Akram, Usman Akram, Arslan Akram, and two unidentified accomplices allegedly raided Amna Majeed’s house armed with sticks and bamboo rods.

At the time of the attack, Umair Majeed was not present at home. The suspects assaulted Amna Majeed, her elderly mother Khalida Nafees, and her sister Noor Sahar while demanding information about Umair’s whereabouts.

During the assault, Khalida Nafees lost consciousness and later died at the scene.

The attackers fled before villagers and police arrived.

Kawowal Police registered a murder case on the complaint of Amna Majeed under Sections 302, 148, and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code and arrested Adnan Akram.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2026