Seven Killed in Stampede at Anti- government Rally in Pakistan

A stampede at an anti-government rally organized by the Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf (PTI) in central Pakistan on Friday has killed seven people.

The stampede, in which 42 people were also injured, occurred when people were leaving the Qasim Bagh Stadium in the city of Multan after a speech by PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

According to District Coordination Officer Zahid Saleem Gondal , all the five gates of the stadium were open during the incident. However, a large number of people tried to get out of the stadium through one gate. In the melee, many people fell down and were trampled by others, he said, reports Dawn.com.

Contrary to Gondal's claim, PTI leader Shireen Mazari said that participants in the rally had trouble in getting out as the gates were locked by the administration.

She also said that a large police contingent at the stadium could have handled the situation.

Expressing deep grief and sorrow over the incident, PTI chief Imran Khan said that the stampede happened due to the negligence of police and the local administration.

"I condemn the role deputy commissioner Multan played ... out of six main gates, only two were opened after the rally," he said, adding that the gates were under the control of the local district administration.

Since August, Islamabad has witnessed mass protests led by Khan's party and Pakistan Awami  Tareek (PAT) led by firebrand  cleric Tahir ul Qadri in order to overthrow the government of Nawaz Sharif.

Both of them accuse Sharif of vote rigging in the 2013 elections which brought him back to power.  Though International observers have noted irregularities in the elections, they have not questioned the results, reports the Associated Press.