LAHORE, February 3, 2026 — The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the Punjab government and other respondents in a petition seeking accountability for the deaths of a mother and her 10-month-old daughter, who fell into an open manhole near Bhatti Gate.
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Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi heard the petition, filed by Aamna Malik and the Judicial Activism Panel. Advocate Azhar Siddique, representing the petitioners, highlighted the rising number of incidents involving citizens falling into open manholes, calling it a matter of serious concern. He criticized the authorities for taking only cosmetic measures and urged the court to hold officials responsible for the tragedy.
The assistant attorney general contended that the federal government had been unnecessarily included in the petition, as the incident falls under provincial jurisdiction. The court, however, noted it wished to hear the federal government’s perspective as well. Respondents have been directed to submit their replies by March 3.
The tragedy occurred at the site of the under-construction Data Darbar expansion project near Bhatti Gate. The mother’s body was recovered the same night, while her infant daughter was found the following day. Officials from the contracting company responsible for the construction were arrested for negligence. On January 31, a judicial magistrate approved a four-day physical remand of the officials.
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In parallel, a “high-powered committee” of police officials has launched a fact-finding inquiry into allegations of torture against the mother’s husband.
The court’s notices underscore growing public concern over urban safety and accountability for infrastructure-related hazards in Lahore.