Court grants four-day remand of eight suspects in Lahore manhole tragedy

Police sought 14 days; TEPA officials among those remanded over alleged negligence

LAHORE:

A district and sessions court in Lahore on Saturday granted police a four-day physical remand of eight suspects in the case of a mother and her infant daughter who died after falling into an uncovered manhole at Bhati Gate.

Judicial Magistrate Shafqat Abbas announced the reserved verdict after hearing arguments from both sides. Police had sought a 14-day physical remand, but the court approved only four days.

Those presented in handcuffs included Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) Project Manager Asghar Sindhu, Ahmed Nawaz, Daniyal and five others.

The suspects’ counsel opposed the request for physical remand and presented a photocopy of a cheque before the court. “A very tragic incident occurred,” the counsel said, adding that Rs10 million had been given to the affected family in the form of a cheque on humanitarian grounds. The counsel further told the court that Rs120 million were available in a bank account for the victims’ family.

Read: CM Maryam orders arrests over mother, infant daughter's deaths in Lahore manhole

According to police and rescue authorities, Sadia and her infant daughter Rida Fatima fell into an uncovered manhole near Data Darbar, where development work was reportedly under way. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at around 7:30pm.

Sadia’s body was recovered first from the sewerage system near Outfall Road, about three kilometres from the manhole. Rescue officials said the infant’s body was found after a 16-hour-long operation that continued through the night.

Following the incident, Bhati Gate police registered a case under Section 322 (manslaughter) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Sajid Hussain, Sadia’s father. The FIR named TEPA Project Manager Asghar Sandhu, Safety In-charge Daniyal Shamil and Site In-charge Ahmed Nawaz, holding them responsible for alleged criminal negligence.

The complainant accused the officials of leaving the manhole uncovered, which he said directly led to the deaths.

Read More: Woman, child die as they fall into manhole in Lahore

The case initially triggered controversy after conflicting statements emerged, with some officials questioning whether bodies could travel through the sewerage system. Confusion deepened when a Punjab government spokesperson prematurely termed the incident “fake”, a statement later contradicted by rescue findings.

Scepticism further grew when family members accused Sadia’s husband of foul play, citing strained marital relations. Police detained the husband and others for questioning, but investigators later said forensic evidence, CCTV footage and rescue operation findings supported the conclusion that the deaths were accidental.

Also Read: Torture allegation surface in sewer incident

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered the dismissal and arrest of Project Director Zahid Hussain, Ahmed Nawaz, Daniyal and Asghar Sandhu.

She expressed a complete lack of confidence in the performance of all responsible departments and called for immediate accountability, holding the administration, the Lahore Development Authority, the Water and Sanitation Agency and other concerned officials responsible for gross negligence.