The Islamabad High Court has granted TikToker Mr Patlu bail on a protective, temporary basis in the Sialkot stampede case linked to his mehndi function. A single bench of Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar on Tuesday gave Muhammad Ansar Jatt, known as Mr Patlu, cover until 10 November so he can avoid arrest while he approaches the court that has jurisdiction over the case. He appeared before the court in a wheelchair.
Protective bail — also called transitory bail — is short-term court cover that lets a person travel safely to the forum where a case is pending, without being arrested on the way. The order does not decide guilt or innocence; it only buys limited time to seek pre-arrest bail or other remedies in Sialkot.
How the Sialkot stampede unfolded
Jatt had announced a mehndi event and prize-distribution ceremony at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road for Friday night. Hundreds gathered at the site. When the stadium gates opened, a stampede broke out. Two people were killed and 18 were injured.
On 31 October, police registered a first information report (FIR) — the formal police complaint that starts a criminal case — at Motra Police Station. The FIR names Jatt, his brother, the owner of Faraz Cricket Ground, six other people, and about 40 to 45 unidentified security guards.
What the FIR and petition say
According to the legal papers, the FIR cites several sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), the main criminal law statute, including provisions on causing death by mistake (qatl-i-khata), mischief, rioting while armed, unlawful assembly, disobedience of a lawful order, and abetment. It is also read with Section 16 of the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960, a provincial public-order law.
Barristers Qasim Nawaz Abbasi and Raja Ali Abbas Jalap filed Jatt’s petition. They argued that the FIR was registered outside the IHC’s territorial area, but said the only aim of seeking protective bail was to let a suspect already within one court’s reach reach the Sialkot court without being arrested en route. The petition said the merits of the case need not be examined at this stage, and that without such cover his right to seek pre-arrest bail in Sialkot would be empty in practice.
The petition called the allegations “false, frivolous, and baseless” and said he had been wrongly named. The court was also told he had no previous criminal record and that no similar petition had been filed in any other court. After hearing the arguments, Justice Dogar granted the limited relief and gave him time to surrender before the appropriate forum.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Friday night: A mehndi and prize event at Faraz Cricket Ground on Daska Road draws hundreds; a stampede when the gates open kills two people and injures 18.
- 31 October: Motra Police Station registers an FIR naming Jatt, his brother, the ground owner, six others and 40–45 unidentified guards.
- Tuesday: IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar grants TikToker Mr Patlu bail on a protective basis until 10 November and directs him to approach the relevant court.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Islamabad High Court ne TikToker Mr Patlu ko 10 November tak temporary bail de di hai. Sialkot mein unke mehndi function par stampede hua tha, jismein do log mare aur atharah zakhmi hue. Ab woh arrest se bach kar Sialkot ki court mein apna case le ja sakte hain. Yeh bail case khatam nahi karti — sirf thora waqt milta hai ke woh sahi court pahunch saken.
