Court orders release of suspects in Lahore manhole deaths after ‘settlement’

LAHORE: A district court in Lahore on Monday ordered the release of five suspects after the family of a mother and her infant daughter killed in a manhole tragedy agreed not to pursue further legal action, lawyers said, in the latest development in a high-profile case that had sparked public outrage

The mother, identified as Sadia, and her 10-month-old daughter Rida Fatima died on January 28 after falling into an uncovered manhole near Bhati Gate, close to the Data Darbar area, police and officials said.

Later, the victims’ bodies were retrieved from the manhole and transported back to their ancestral village in Shorkot, where relatives and residents mourned in scenes of grief following their deaths in the busy urban district of Lahore.

In court today’s proceedings, Judicial Magistrate Shafqat Abbas heard the case registered at Bhati Gate police station. The complainant, the victims’ relative, told the court he did not wish to pursue further action against the five arrested individuals — including contractors and project personnel associated with the ongoing sewer project — and agreed to their release.

The case initially prompted immediate action from Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who branded the deaths “criminal negligence” and ordered the arrest and dismissal of project officials, pledging strict accountability for those responsible.

The tragedy drew attention to longstanding safety concerns in the heart of Lahore, an area frequented by pedestrians and tourists, highlighting the risks posed by uncovered infrastructure at construction sites in congested urban environments.

Police conduct and suspension

The incident also triggered scrutiny of police conduct after the victims’ family alleged that officers coerced and mistreated the bereaved husband during early questioning, an accusation that prompted the suspension of a station house officer and a show-cause notice for a deputy superintendent of police.

Lahore police have defended their response, saying procedures were followed and that any allegations of misconduct will be investigated.

Disciplinary action and new directives have been issued to traffic police to report uncovered drains and manholes to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Safety issues, political response and media coverage

The deaths touched off widespread media attention and criticism over public safety standards in Pakistan’s second-largest city, with national outlets documenting the unfolding events and governmental reactions.

Authorities initially dismissed early reports of the tragedy as inaccurate, but later confirmed the deaths after Safe City CCTV footage corroborated the family’s account.

Maryam Nawaz’s response included ordering the suspension of the entire team working on the Data Darbar revamp project and demanding compensation from the contractor for the family, underscoring political pressure to improve safety protocols.

The media coverage also highlighted broader concerns about urban infrastructure management, with experts and commentators noting that open manholes and inadequate safety measures have caused multiple preventable accidents in recent years.

While the latest court order frees the suspects on mutual understanding, investigations and inquiries into both administrative negligence and police behaviour in the aftermath of the tragedy are ongoing.