Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed strong indignation over the fatal Bhati Gate manhole incident, censuring the district administration, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), WASA and other concerned departments for what she termed “criminal negligence”.
Chairing an emergency meeting at the Lahore Airport lounge on her return from Bhakkar, the chief minister ordered the removal from service and arrest of four officials, including the project director, project manager and safety in-charge of the ongoing construction project.
She declared the contractor, supervisor, consultant, commissioner Lahore, deputy commissioner Lahore, assistant commissioner, LDA and WASA all equally responsible for the incident.
“This is Punjab. It is not a place where someone falls and dies and no one cares. I am answerable here, and so are you,” the chief minister said during the meeting.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed the contractor to pay Rs10 million as compensation to the husband of the deceased woman, while instructing the government to provide him a taxi for livelihood support.
The chief minister also ordered that all open manholes and excavations across the province must be fully covered, properly lit at night and secured immediately. She further directed that wherever Safe City cameras have been removed due to construction work, temporary mobile or wireless cameras must be installed without delay.
Briefed by the additional chief secretary, chief minister Punjab expressed a complete lack of confidence in the performance of the responsible institutions. She noted that Bhati Gate was not a remote area but a prominent locality in Lahore, frequented by visitors from across the country and abroad.
She observed that after work was halted, the manhole was left open, calling it an act of extreme negligence. “Putting up banners and flexes is not safety. Who will read them in the dark?” she questioned, adding that no effective inspection had been carried out by the assistant commissioner.
The chief minister said that open manholes mostly claim the lives of poor pedestrians. “If it were my or your daughter, the system would have moved immediately,” she remarked, adding that negligence of this scale was no less than murder.
CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif also criticised attempts to create confusion after the incident, stating that instead of helping the affected family, the victim’s husband was treated as a suspect. She rejected claims that the woman had not fallen into the manhole, pointing out that CCTV footage was available until 7:30pm and it was impossible for a crime to be staged within minutes.
She lamented that due to the negligence of authorities, not only a woman lost her life but her 10-month-old child also died. “There are multiple institutions here, yet no one takes responsibility,” she said.
The chief minister reiterated that every life in Punjab is precious. “Not only human life, even the life of an animal matters. Everyone responsible will be held accountable,” she assured.