CM Maryam Orders Arrests, Dismissals Over Manhole Deaths

News Desk 

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered the arrest and dismissal of senior officials of the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TIPA) and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) over the deaths of a woman and her infant daughter, who fell into an open manhole near Bhatti Gate a day earlier.

The victims, identified as Sadia and her 10-month-old daughter Rida Fatima, died after falling into the uncovered manhole on Wednesday.

Chairing a special meeting at the Lahore airport lounge, the chief minister directed Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar to arrest TIPA Project Manager Asghar Sindhu, Safety In-charge Daniyal, Site In-charge Ahmed Nawaz, and Wasa official Usman Babar, holding them responsible for what she termed “severe negligence.”

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She also ordered the immediate dismissal of the TIPA project director and the Wasa official, stating that they should be barred from future government employment to “realise the gravity of the criminal negligence they committed.”

The chief minister further directed that the bereaved family be paid Rs10 million by the contractor involved in the project.

“There is no difference between the Bhatti Gate incident and murder,” Maryam said, adding that criminal negligence had occurred at multiple levels.

She also held the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general, Wasa managing director, Lahore commissioner, deputy commissioner, and assistant commissioner responsible for the incident.

In a statement posted on social media, the chief minister said the deaths were not an accident but a crime, calling the incident a source of deep shame.

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“Officers who cannot even secure an open manhole have no right to hold office,” she said, adding that attempts were made to distort facts to conceal incompetence.

Maryam vowed that justice would be served and that all responsible officials would be punished, warning that the era of negligent and dishonest officers was over.

“In Punjab, every life will be valued, regardless of how powerful the officer involved,” she said, adding that she would stand by the affected family.

Meanwhile, police said they had arrested three suspects nominated in the first information report (FIR), including Project Manager Asghar Sindhu, Safety In-charge Daniyal, and Site In-charge Ahmed Nawaz.

The case was registered on the complaint of the deceased woman’s father, Sajid Hussain, under Section 322 (accidental death) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the FIR, the suspects were negligent in leaving the manhole uncovered, which resulted in the fatal incident.