Lahore police suspend officer after mother, child die in open sewer incident

LAHORE: Lahore police have launched disciplinary action against two senior officers after reports emerged that the husband of a woman who died along with her young daughter after falling into an open sewer near Bhati Gate was taken into custody and allegedly subjected to torture, officials said on Friday.

The Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Lahore suspended Bhati Gate Station House Officer Zain Abbas and issued a show-cause notice to the area Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), following public outrage over the incident.

City police chief officials said that a high-level inquiry would determine whether police acted appropriately, including why the woman’s husband and brother-in-law were detained despite the case originating from a rescue call.

“The motives behind taking the husband and the brother-in-law into custody will be examined,” an SP City official said, adding that the Internal Accountability Branch (IAB) had been directed to conduct an independent investigation.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the inquiry to be completed as soon as possible, officials said, warning that strict action would be taken against all officers found responsible for negligence or misconduct.

Traffic police given new duties after deaths

Following the fatal accident involving the mother and child, Lahore authorities have expanded the responsibilities of traffic police wardens.

Under the new directives, traffic wardens will be required to identify uncovered manholes and drains in their assigned sectors, take photographs, and report them to relevant departments.

A wireless message has been issued instructing all wardens to locate open sewers and manholes without lids to prevent further tragedies.

Family alleges forced thumbprints on blank paper

The incident has also sparked controversy after the victim’s family accused police of forcing the complainant to sign and place thumbprints on blank paper.

According to local media, the family released a video claiming police officials obtained the thumbprints under pressure, allegedly to provide relief to departments deemed responsible for the uncovered manhole.

However, Lahore Police’s Operations Wing rejected the allegation, saying the thumbprint was taken at the morgue only to correct details in the case application.

Police said the complainant had initially named a safety officer as “Muhammad Daniyal,” but after an arrest it was discovered the correct name was “Muhammad Hanzala.”

“The thumbprint was taken solely to rectify the application so that the case could be registered with accurate information,” the spokesperson said.

The police added that due to time constraints, the correction process was completed quickly at the morgue while the family was present with the body.

Authorities said the police department shared the grief of the bereaved family and that an inquiry was underway, with the SHO already suspended.