KARACHI, July 24 A sessions court on Saturday acquitted a rice dealer in the September 14, 2009 Khori Garden stampede case as the two parties involved filed a compromise application in court.

Chaudhry Mohammed Iftikhar, the rice dealer, was charged with negligence and unintentional killing of some 20 women and children gathered at his warehouse to receive free ration offered by him. During the previous hearing of the case, the two parties after agreeing to an out-of-court settlement submitted a joint application under Section 345 (2) of the criminal procedure code, which says that the offences punishable under sections of the Pakistan Penal Code specified in the table (including Sections 319 and 337-H), with the permission of the court before which any prosecution for such offence is pending, be compounded by the heirs of the victims.

Dozens of legal heirs of the victims had turned up to submit their affidavits in court stating that they had no grievance against the accused and that they would not raise any objection if the court acquitted him in the case.

After accepting the compromise plea, the district and sessions judge (south) Fahim Ahmed Siddiqui announced his verdict acquitting the accused under Section 345(6) [the composition of an offence under this section shall have the effect of an acquittal of the accused (with whom the offence has been compounded)] of the CrPC.

According to the prosecution, a stampede at a three-storey warehouse near Khori Garden within the remit of the Kharadar police station had caused death of around 20 women and girls on Sept 14, 2009. They victims had gathered there to get food handouts.

Chaudhry Mohammed Iftikhar, a rice dealer and the owner of the warehouse, was booked in the case (FIR No.1057/2009) under Section 319 (punishment for unintentional murder) and 337-H (punishment for hurt by rash or negligent act) of the Pakistan Penal Code at the Kharadar police station.