Court Grants Four-Day Remand in Lahore Manhole Tragedy Case

A Lahore district and sessions court on Saturday approved a four-day physical remand of eight suspects in connection with the Bhati Gate manhole tragedy that claimed the lives of a woman and her infant daughter.

Police had requested a 14-day remand, but Judicial Magistrate Shafqat Abbas granted only four days after hearing arguments from both sides.

Among the suspects produced in handcuffs were Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) Project Manager Asghar Sindhu, Ahmed Nawaz, Daniyal, and five others. They are accused of negligence that allegedly led to the fatal incident.

Defence counsel opposed the police request, informing the court that Rs10 million had been paid to the victims’ family as humanitarian assistance. The counsel further claimed that Rs120 million were available in a bank account for the family.

According to police and rescue officials, Sadia and her infant daughter Rida Fatima fell into an uncovered manhole near Data Darbar on Wednesday evening around 7:30pm, where development work was reportedly ongoing. Sadia’s body was recovered from the sewerage system near Outfall Road, approximately three kilometres away, while the infant’s body was found after a 16-hour rescue operation.

A case under Section 322 (manslaughter) of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered at Bhati Gate police station on the complaint of Sadia’s father, Sajid Hussain. The FIR names TEPA officials Asghar Sandhu, Daniyal Shamil and Ahmed Nawaz, accusing them of criminal negligence for leaving the manhole uncovered.

The case sparked controversy after conflicting official statements emerged, including an initial claim by a Punjab government spokesperson that the incident was “fake,” which was later contradicted by rescue findings. Although suspicion briefly fell on Sadia’s husband, police later ruled out foul play based on forensic evidence, CCTV footage and rescue operation data.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the dismissal and arrest of the officials involved, expressing a lack of confidence in the performance of relevant departments and directing strict accountability for what she termed gross negligence.