ISLAMABAD: Popular Pakistani TikToker Ansar Mehmood, widely known as Mr Patlu (or Mr Patlo), has been taken into custody by law enforcement agencies during a joint police raid in Islamabad’s Gulberg Greens area.
The arrest follows a multi-day manhunt launched in connection with a fatal stampede that occurred during his high-profile wedding celebrations in Punjab.
TikToker ‘Mr Patlu’ Arrested in Islamabad: What Happened?
The tragedy unfolded at the Faraz Cricket Ground along Daska Road in Sialkot, where a massive crowd gathered for Mr Patlu’s mehndi ceremony and an advertised promotional prize draw.
According to police and rescue reports, the social media influencer’s team heavily publicized the event online, promising major giveaways including a car and 50 motorcycles. Thousands of attendees, some traveling from distant areas, flocked to the venue.
The situation deteriorated rapidly when announcements over loudspeakers instructed the crowd to enter the grounds simultaneously. The resulting surge caused a chaotic crush, leaving multiple individuals trapped and trampled.
Two victims lost their lives after succumbing to their injuries. Muhammad Aqeel (30) died while being rushed to a local hospital, while Rehan, who was later transferred to Lahore for advanced medical treatment, also passed away.
The disaster also severely disrupted traffic along the Daska–Sialkot road, prompting emergency intervention.
Legal Action and FIR Details
Local authorities stated that event organizers flagrantly breached permission conditions and public safety protocols.
A First Information Report (FIR) was formally lodged at the Motra Police Station in Sialkot. The case names nine primary suspects—including Mr Patlu, his brother Kashif Bashir, and venue owner Shahid Javed—alongside approximately 40 to 45 unidentified security guards.
The charges include several serious legal provisions, including Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), relating to qat-i-shibh-i-amd (manslaughter), Section 188 for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant, Sections 148 and 149 concerning rioting armed with a deadly weapon and unlawful assembly, Sections 431 and 440 relating to mischief involving public roads and acts committed after preparation to cause death or injury, and Section 109 concerning abetment. Additionally, Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance has also been invoked.
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In the wake of the tragedy, district authorities cancelled permissions for remaining wedding events and seized the car and 50 motorcycles intended for the promotional prize draw.
Suspect’s Stance
Prior to his apprehension, Mr Patlu released a video statement denying personal culpability, claiming he was not physically present at the venue when the stampede took place. Following his capture in Islamabad by a special Sialkot Police team backed by capital law enforcement, authorities have transferred him back to Sialkot for formal interrogation and judicial proceedings.
