President Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) Mohammed Tariq Yousuf and President Site Association of Industry Riazuddin, while expressing deep grief over loss of precious lives in a stampede during distribution of Zakat in a factory situated in Site Area, stated that it was undoubtedly a tragic incident but the government has to realize the good intentions of the factory owner who, being a very noble and religious person, was only supporting the poor segment of society in the ongoing era of unbearable inflation.
In a joint statement issued, President KCCI and President SAI appealed Prime Minister, Chief Minister Sindh, Minister for Industries and other high ups to ensure immediate relief to the factory owner who despite not being at fault, surrendered soon after the incident and remains detained since last five days. No case should be registered against the factory owner who was just carrying out a religious obligation in the holy month of Ramadan with all his good intentions. The government has to understand and take a lenient view so that the business & industrial community could not get disheartened, they added.
They also pointed out that it was really strange the relevant Deputy Commissioner, in response to the incident, said that the factory owner should have informed the local police station about Zakat distribution activity which was very surprising and not making any sense as why would anyone inform local police station when they were carrying out a religious obligation.
The overall economic situation of common man has gone down from bad to worst which was the basic reason why such incidents were now regularly happening, they said while referring to a similar incident wherein people selling fruits at Rs10 per kg only for the poor and needy were also attacked the same way by a mob and even such incidents had also been reported when free flour was being distributed amongst the poor under Prime Minister’s Free Atta Scheme.
They reiterated that the factory owner must be released at the earliest by taking his good intentions into consideration otherwise, it would badly discourage and frighten many others involved in philanthropic activities. It was a matter of investigation also that these kinds of helping hands were being sabotaged which must not happen as it was because of these noble people who help the poor segment of society so that they could peacefully pass the holy month of Ramadan with dignity.”