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LHC Seeks Punjab Govt Reply Over Bhatti Gate Manhole Tragedy
The Lahore High Court has sought replies from the Punjab government over the tragic Bhatti Gate incident where a mother and her infant daughter lost their lives after falling into an open manhole. Justice demands accountability.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-03
LHC Seeks Punjab Govt Reply Over Bhatti Gate Manhole Tragedy

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the Punjab government and other relevant respondents on a petition seeking action against those responsible for the tragic incident in which a woman and her infant daughter lost their lives after falling into an open manhole near Bhatti Gate.

 

Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi heard the petition filed by Aamna Malik along with the Judicial Activism Panel. During the hearing, the petitioners’ counsel, Advocate Azhar Siddique, highlighted the alarming rise in incidents involving citizens falling into uncovered manholes, terming it a serious threat to public safety.

 

The counsel expressed deep concern over the alleged negligence of authorities, stating that the manhole had been left open in a densely populated area. He argued that instead of holding responsible officials accountable, the government resorted to superficial measures following the tragedy.

 

Advocate Siddique urged the court to fix responsibility for the incident and initiate strict legal action against those found negligent. He also maintained that leaving hazardous sites unsecured reflects a broader failure of governance and oversight.

 

During the proceedings, the assistant attorney general contended that the federal government had been unnecessarily made a party to the petition, as the matter primarily falls under provincial jurisdiction. However, Justice Rizvi observed that the court would still like to hear the federal government’s stance on the issue.

 

After hearing preliminary arguments, the court directed all respondents to submit their replies by March 3. Earlier, on the court’s instructions, the petitioner’s counsel removed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) from the list of respondents.

 

The tragic incident occurred near Bhatti Gate at the site of the under-construction Data Darbar expansion project, where the woman and her 10-month-old daughter fell into an open sewer. The woman’s body was recovered later the same night, while the child’s body was found after a day-long search operation.

 

Following the incident, officials of the contractor involved in the Data Darbar extension project were arrested on charges of negligence. On January 31, a judicial magistrate approved a four-day physical remand of the arrested officials.

 

Meanwhile, a high-powered committee comprising senior police officials has launched a fact-finding inquiry to investigate allegations of torture against the husband of the deceased woman, adding another dimension to the ongoing case.

 

 
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