Complainants tell the court that they have no objection to the acquittal of the suspects or acquittal from the case
A file photo of the late mother, Sadia, with her 10-month-old daughter, Rida Fatima. PHOTO: EXPRESS
A magistrate court granted bail to five suspects in a case relating to the death of a mother and her infant daughter after they lost their lives by falling into an open manhole near Lahore’s Bhati Gate, responding to the version of the complainant who did not seek further prosecution against them.
The incident took place last month near Data Darbar, where 24-year-old Sadia and her 10-month-old daughter Rida fell into an uncovered sewer line. Rescue 1122 team found Sadia’s body almost six hours after the incident, while the infant’s body was retrieved about 16 hours later after an extensive search operation.
Sadia’s husband had accused the police of subjecting him to physical torture after taking him and his cousins into custody for questioning.
During today’s hearing, Judge Shafqat Abbas presided over the case after the police presented the suspects to the court at the end of their physical custody. The suspects included project manager Asghar Sandhu, the contractor’s managing director Salman Yasin, Site Incharge Hunzala, Ahmed Nawaz and Daniyal.
Read more: The court remands eight suspects for four days
The deceased woman’s father, Sajid Hussain, and her husband, Murtaza, also appeared in court.
They told the court that they did not wish to pursue further legal proceedings against the suspects and had no objection to their acquittal or discharge from the case.
In light of the complainant’s statement, the judge allowed the suspects’ post-arrest bail applications and directed them to post bail of Rs50,000 each.
It is worth mentioning that the defender had told the court at the previous hearing that the owner of the company voluntarily surrendered to the police and presented a check for DKK 10 million to the aggrieved family.
Following the incident, the Bhati Gate police had registered a case under Section 322 (homicide) of the Pakistan Penal Code on Hussain’s complaint. The complainant had accused the officials of leaving the manhole uncovered, which he said directly led to the deaths.
Read also: CM Maryam orders arrests over death of mother, infant daughter
The case had initially sparked controversy after conflicting statements emerged, with some officials questioning whether organs could travel through the sewer system. The confusion deepened when a spokesman for the Punjab government prematurely called the incident “fake”, a statement later contradicted by rescue results.
Skepticism grew further when family members accused Sadia’s husband of foul play, citing strained marital relations. Police detained the man and others for questioning, but investigators later said forensic evidence, CCTV footage and rescue operations supported the conclusion that the deaths were accidental.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had ordered the dismissal and arrest of the suspects
Read more: Woman, child die when they fall into manhole in Lahore
She expressed complete lack of confidence in the performance of all responsible departments and called for immediate accountability, holding the administration, Lahore Development Authority, Water and Sanitation Agency and other officials concerned responsible for gross negligence.
