ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday granted protective bail to TikToker Muhammad Ansar Jatt, alias “Mr Pattlo”, after a stampede at his mehndi (henna) event in Sialkot claimed two lives.

Jatt had announced holding a mehndi event and prize-distribution ceremony at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road on Friday night; however, with hundreds gathered at the site, a stampede occurred when the stadium gates opened, killing two and injuring 18 people.

Subsequently, a first information report (FIR) was registered on October 31 at the Motra Police Station, naming Jatt, his brother, the owner of Faraz Cricket Ground, six others, and 40-45 unidentified security guards.

On Tuesday, IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar approved the protective — also known as transitory — bail for the TikToker until Nov 10, allowing him to avoid arrest while he approaches the relevant court to seek legal remedy. He surrendered before the court in a wheelchair.

Jatt had filed a petition, seeking the court’s intervention to prevent his arrest before he could reach the court of competent jurisdiction. Advocates Barrister Qasim Nawaz Abbasi and Barrister Raja Ali Abbas Jalap filed the petition on his behalf.

According to the legal document, Jatt was named in the FIR, which was registered under Sections 322 (punishment for qatl-i-khata), 440 (mischief committed after preparation made for causing death or hurt), 431 (mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 109 (punishment of abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), read with Section 16 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960.

During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel argued that the FIR was registered outside the IHC’s territorial jurisdiction. However, the counsel maintained that the sole object of seeking protective bail was to enable a suspect present within the jurisdiction of one court to safely approach the court where the case was registered without being arrested on the way.

“The merits of the case are not required to be examined at this stage,” the petition stated, adding that without the protection, the petitioner’s right to seek pre-arrest bail before a Sialkot court would be rendered illusory.

The petition further contended that the allegations levelled against the petitioner were “false, frivolous, and baseless,” claiming that he had been falsely implicated.

It was also brought to the court’s notice that the petitioner had no previous criminal record and that no other petition seeking the same relief had been filed before any other court.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Dogar granted the relief, noting the temporary and limited nature of the protective bail and allowing the petitioner time to surrender before the appropriate forum.

On Sunday, Sialkot police said they had arrested six suspects in relation to the incident.

Police said Jatt immediately fled the scene after the incident, adding that their investigation and raid teams were conducting operations to apprehend the TikTok influencer. Sialkot District Police Officer Dost Muhammad confirmed that the six arrested individuals were involved in managing the event.

According to the DPO, organisers had invited a large number of people by advertising a lucky draw featuring prizes such as motorcycles, a car and other valuable items via social media.

During the event, an announcement was made over the loudspeakers instructing all attendees to enter the grounds simultaneously. This simultaneous entry into the sports stadium triggered a severe stampede, the DPO said.

He stated that the organisers violated the terms of their permit, as well as established safety standard operating procedures (SOPs). The stampede also disrupted the flow of traffic on the main Daska-Sialkot Road.

The Sialkot DPO declared that legal action would be taken against all those responsible for the incident, without any discrimination.