LAHORE — Following a week of national outrage, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari issued a sincere apology on Friday, January 30, 2026, to the family of Sadia (24) and her 10-month-old daughter, Rida Fatima, who tragically died after falling into an open manhole near Bhati Chowk.
The apology comes amid intense criticism of the provincial government’s initial handling of the case, which saw some departments prematurely label the incident “impossible” and even lead to the temporary arrest and alleged torture of the grieving husband.
A Chronology of Negligence
On Wednesday evening, January 28, the victims—visiting from Shorkot—fell into an open manhole at the Data Darbar Expansion Project site immediately after dismounting a rickshaw.
- Delayed Recovery: Sadia’s body was recovered late that night, while the infant’s body was found nearly 17 hours later at Saggian, five kilometers away, proving that the sewerage flow was intense enough to carry her through the system.
- Misleading Reports: Initial briefings to the CM and the public claimed the report was “fake,” a confusion Bokhari now admits was caused by incorrect data provided by the relevant departments.
Instead of helping victims, police ‘torture’, pressure husband to falsely admit to murdering wife, baby
Read more: https://t.co/zlbkQKJHKs#SamaaTV #Lahoreincident #manholetragedy #BhatiGate #PunjabPolice pic.twitter.com/NXrjDNes3w
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) January 31, 2026
Chief Minister’s Stern Response
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took personal charge of the situation, reportedly “grilling” top bureaucracy on camera for their criminal negligence.
- Direct Accountability: She ordered the dismissal and arrest of four key project officials, including the Project Director (Zahid Hussain), Project Manager (Ahmed Nawaz), Safety In-charge (Daniyal), and Site Manager (Asghar Sandhu).
- Bureaucratic Shakedown: The entire team of the Data Darbar revamp project has been suspended. The CM also reprimanded the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Lahore, noting that the Assistant Commissioner had “never once visited the site.”
- Compensation: The CM ordered the contractor to pay Rs 10 million in compensation to the bereaved family immediately.
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Police Misconduct and Judicial Action
The tragedy was compounded by the behavior of the Bhati Gate police, who initially doubted the husband’s account.
- Allegations of Torture: A high-powered inquiry committee has found the SP City, SDPO, and SHO guilty of negligence. The report confirms that Sadia’s husband was tortured in the SHO’s retiring room in an attempt to coerce a “murder confession.”
- LHC Petition: A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking criminal cases against Azma Bokhari and the DC Lahore for spreading misinformation, as well as demanding Rs 250 million in damages.
Summary of Legal & Administrative Actions
| Entity / Individual | Status |
| Project Manager & Safety Team | Arrested and under 4-day physical remand. |
| Bhati Gate Police (SHO, SDPO, SP) | Declared guilty of negligence and torture in inquiry. |
| NESPAK (Consultant) | Issued show-cause notice; resident engineer suspended. |
| Contractor | Ordered to pay Rs 10 million compensation; facing interrogation. |
A Vow for Reform
Azma Bokhari stated that if her resignation could provide justice, she would offer it, though she maintained that she was misled by the same faulty information shared with all authorities. The CM has now mandated that all construction sites across Punjab be audited and secured within 48 hours to prevent further loss of life.
The suspects are due back in court on February 3.
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