Pakistani TikToker Mr Patlo denies involvement in deadly wedding stampede

A stampede at the mehndi ceremony of Pakistani TikToker Mr Patlo in Sialkot on Saturday night killed one person and injured 14, after crowds gathered for announced prize giveaways.

Police have arrested at least five people and registered a case against him. He denies responsibility, saying he was not present.

What happened at the Mr Patlo wedding stampede?

Thousands of people gathered at the venue after prize giveaways, including a car and several motorcycles, were announced, and a stampede broke out. Rescue 1122 and police confirmed one death and 14 injuries. The injured were taken for medical treatment. Reports suggested attendees came from Lahore, Jhelum, Kharian and other parts of Punjab province.

The event was the mehndi ceremony of Anser Jutt, popularly known as Mr Patlo. Police and rescue teams responded after the crowd gathered at the venue.

What has Mr Patlo said about the stampede?

In a video shared on his social media accounts, Jutt appeared distressed and broke down in tears while insisting that he had done nothing wrong. He said he was not at the venue when the stampede occurred. He also expressed frustration over what he described as the withdrawal of support from people around him.

“I swear to God, I did not do anything. I was not there. I was not even there,” he said.

In the same video, Jutt spoke about feeling isolated and made remarks suggesting he was contemplating suicide, adding that it could be his last video if he did not post again.

What action have police taken over the Mr Patlo stampede?

Police have arrested at least five people in connection with the incident and registered a first information report (FIR) against Jutt. He had not been arrested at the time of reporting, although he could be summoned for questioning as investigators examine the circumstances and determine responsibility.

The District Police Officer (DPO) visited the venue with a police contingent after the incident to help restore order. Investigators are expected to examine crowd management arrangements, the circumstances surrounding the gathering and possible lapses in security planning.

Has the stampede death toll been confirmed?

Official confirmation stands at one death and 14 injuries. Some people affected by the incident claimed the death toll was as high as seven. Police had not independently confirmed those additional fatalities at the time of reporting.

The investigation is continuing, with authorities yet to establish the full circumstances of the incident.