CM Maryam Nawaz expressed her anger towards the relevant departments
LAHORE: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Jan 29th, 2026) Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has stated that there is no difference between the Bhati Gate incident and a murder, emphasizing that a criminal act occurred at every level of the incident.
In a high-level meeting regarding the tragic incident where a woman and her child fell into an open sewer hole at Bhati Chowk in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz expressed her anger towards the relevant departments. She held the Commissioner of Lahore, Assistant Commissioner, Wasa, LDA, Deputy Commissioner Lahore, Traffic Police, and Police equally responsible for the incident.
Maryam Nawaz remarked, “A criminal act happened at every level. There are ten departments sitting, and none have any answers. A dozen officers are in charge, yet no one responded when the incident occurred.” She further stated that the Commissioner of Lahore, DC Lahore, DG LDA, and Assistant Commissioner should be punished for their failure to act.
She pointed out that the area where the woman fell had no proper lighting, and although a sign was put up, no effort was made to ensure safety. “There should have been no parking in the construction area, but parking was set up, and money was being charged. No one knew about it. Where is the traffic police? Where is the police department?” she questioned.
Additionally, Maryam Nawaz directed the arrest and dismissal of the TEPA project director, safety officers, and Wasa officials responsible for the incident. She ordered that they be banned from future employment.
She also instructed the contractor to pay one crore rupees to the affected family and emphasized, “This is not a case from Rajanpur, Layyah, or Bhakkar; this happened in Lahore, the Safe City. Such a major incident occurred right under our noses, and instead of helping the family, they were treated as criminals.”
She criticized the authorities for trying to twist the facts, saying, “There are ten departments responsible at every level, but no one is accountable. This is Punjab, where every life is precious. I am responsible, and so are you. Had the child been related to an administrative officer, would the entire machinery not have moved?”
Maryam Nawaz also noted that the woman had been carried three kilometers away by the drain while Lahore’s administration denied that anyone had fallen. “Whoever left the drain open, do they not have children in their homes?” she asked.
She further clarified that there was no involvement of Azma Bokhari, stating that the information circulating was the same as that received by Azma Bokhari.
