ISLAMABAD – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif called for accountability beyond TikToker Mr Pattlo after two people died at his Mehndi event, saying district officials who authorised the gathering must also accept responsibility.
Speaking to journalists, Asif said he checked that Ansar Jatt, known as Mr Patlu, got permission from district administration. He called the gathering as ‘commercial gimmick’ to generate income through social media coverage. The minister said spending on cars and bikes was linked to plans to broadcast the event online and earn money from the resulting attention.
“It was a profitable venture,” Asif said, arguing that those who allowed the event to take place could not escape responsibility for its consequences.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says TikToker Ansar Jatt, known as Mr Pattlo, had obtained permission from the district administration to hold his Mehdi event, which resulted in the de@th of two people.
Responding to questions of journalists, he said that the officials who granted the permission should also be held responsible. “The event was meant to be covered on social media so the TikToker could make money from it. It was a profitable deal,” he added.
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The minister suggested that the organisers and authorities failed to calculate size of crowd or how badly the situation could deteriorate. He said the TikToker promoted the gathering through social media and arranged public announcements in neighbouring villages, drawing attention to the event beyond its immediate surroundings.
Khawaja Asif also said Mr Patlu is in hiding, when asked about his whereabouts amid legal proceedings against him. The deaths prompted broader criticism from the defence minister over the regulation of social media. He said the state could not function with activities taking place in an unregulated manner and urged authorities to give the issue serious attention.
Asked whether responsibility rested with the Punjab government or the Centre, Asif said social media regulation was primarily a federal government responsibility.
He also questioned whether Pakistan’s leadership was doing enough to protect children and young people online. Referring to restrictions on children’s access to certain websites and online interactions elsewhere, he said other societies were taking steps to safeguard their younger generations.
Those in power, he argued, should look into whether young people’s mental development was healthy and whether their upbringing reflected religious values, national interests and a sense of attachment to their country.
Tiktoker Mr Patlo still at large amid Probe into Deadly Mehndi Stampede in Sialkot
