Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday ordered the arrest of officials from the Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TIPA) and the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) following the deaths of a woman and her infant daughter, who fell into an open manhole near Bhatti Gate in Lahore a day earlier.
The loss of an innocent life in the heart of Lahore is not a mere accident, it is a crime, and it has bowed my head in shame. Instead of accepting responsibility, facts were distorted to hide incompetence. Officers who cannot even secure an open manhole have no right to hold…
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 29, 2026
The victims, identified as Sadia and her 10-month-old daughter Rida Fatima, lost their lives after the tragic incident on Wednesday.
While 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 for what she termed “gross negligence.”
She also ordered the immediate dismissal of the TIPA project director and the Wasa official from service, stating that they should be barred from future employment to understand the seriousness of their criminal negligence.
CM Maryam further directed that the affected family be compensated with Rs10 million by the contractor, declaring that “there is no difference between the Bhatti Gate incident and murder,” and asserting that criminal negligence occurred at every level.
She held the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) director general, Wasa managing director, Lahore commissioner, deputy commissioner, and assistant commissioner accountable for the incident.
In a statement posted on X, the chief minister said the loss of innocent lives in the heart of Lahore was not an accident but a crime that had left her deeply ashamed. She accused officials of distorting facts to conceal incompetence, adding that those unable to secure an open manhole had no right to remain in office.
“I will not rest until justice is served, the blood of the two daughters is accounted for, and every responsible officer is punished,” she said, warning that the era of negligent and dishonest officers was over. She also pledged to stand by the bereaved family, alleging they were harassed instead of being provided justice.
Emphasising accountability, she stated that every life in Punjab would be valued, regardless of the rank or influence of those involved.
Meanwhile, police confirmed the arrest of three suspects named in the first information report (FIR): project manager Asghar Sindhu, safety in-charge Daniyal, and site in-charge Ahmed Nawaz.
The FIR 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 police, the suspects’ negligence in leaving the manhole uncovered led directly to the fatal incident.
