A concert gone bad

The venue reportedly had a capacity of 4,000 people but an additional 3,000 people were crammed in. PHOTOS: IJAZ MAHMOOD/THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE

The tragic and needless deaths of three young girls at musician Atif Aslam’s concert in Lahore should finally lead to long overdue legislation mandating certain safety laws at public events. The venue reportedly had a capacity of 4,000 people but an additional 3,000 people were crammed in. This would be the ideal place to start. For the sake of maximising revenue, organisers cannot be allowed to pack an auditorium with more people than it can reasonably hold. That the stampede took place at a venue which is one of Lahore’s best known is an indication of the low priority given to crowd safety regulations. After a spate of concert deaths in the US, many states required that seating be provided at all indoor and outdoor concerts, and that only as many tickets can be sold as there are seats available. We should emulate that and pass identical legislation.

But the problems in Pakistan go far beyond overcrowding. The power of the land mafia is such that many buildings in the country are deathtraps with the potential to kill only increases when a large group of people congregate in one place. Having emergency exits is essential in case of fires and stampedes, as is the provision of fire extinguishers. Even if emergency exits are available, it is the duty of concert-goers to familiarise themselves with secondary exits. In addition, concert organisers should also have to make provisions for first aid and emergency medical services, not only to treat members of the audience who suffer from dehydration, but to have a response in place should there be a tragedy like the one at this concert. Entry and exit from a concert should also be staggered, so that there isn’t an uncontrollable rush of people in the direction of one exit.

These regulations need to be in place not just for rock concerts but for all public events. Since this seems to be the season of jalsas, it is worth noting that rallies held by political parties also need to come under the rubric of such requirements. As much as political parties love to boast about turnout, and how they filled an area to such an extent that it was overflowing, this should be secondary to the safety of attendees. Not a single death is worth the satisfaction of a large crowd, be it drawn by a politician or a pop singer.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2012.