Petition filed against info minister, officials

A petition has been filed against the Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari following the death of a mother and daughter who fell into an open manhole near Bhatti Gate.

The petition, submitted in the Lahore High Court (LHC) by Advocate Azhar Siddique, head of the Judicial Activism Panel, seeks the registration of a case against the minister, an investigation into the incident and action against the officials responsible.

The petition names the Punjab government, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), and other relevant authorities, highlighting gross negligence in leaving an open manhole in a densely populated area.

It stated that symbolic measures were taken instead of holding the responsible officials accountable. Despite over 10,000 manhole covers being stolen annually in Lahore, no effective steps have been implemented. The petitioner argued that registering a case under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code is insufficient, as the deaths resulted from criminal negligence rather than a mere accident.

The petition also alleges harassment of the victims' family by police and government officials. It requests the court to establish a judicial commission to determine the facts, award compensation to the bereaved family, and recover Rs25 crore from negligent officials.