The Lahore District and Sessions Court has ordered the release of five arrested suspects in the Bhati Gate manhole case after the parties reached a reconciliation, with the plaintiff formally stating he did not wish to pursue the matter further.
The case, related to a mother and daughter who fell into an open manhole in Bhati Gate, was heard in the district court of Lahore. The court accepted the bail applications of the suspects on the basis of reconciliation between the parties.
The plaintiff told the court that he did not want to take any further action against the suspects and had no objection to their acquittal or discharge from the case.
Suspects granted bail, released
Following the statement, the court approved the bail of five arrested suspects and ordered their release. The suspects were directed to submit surety bonds worth Rs50,000 each.
The individuals released include Salman Yasin, Usman Yasin, Ahmed Nawaz, Asghar Ali, Daniyal, and Hanzala, as named during court proceedings.
The hearing was conducted by Shafqat Abbas, who recorded the plaintiff’s statement in the courtroom. Based on the compromise, the magistrate granted bail and allowed the suspects to be released.
The court order emphasized that the decision was made strictly on the basis of reconciliation between the parties.
Maryam Nawaz confirms
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday confirmed that a settlement had been reached between the suspects and the family of the woman who died after falling into an open manhole along with her minor daughter.
In a post on X, she shared a message she had received about the latest development in the case. The message stated that the complainant had entered into a compromise with the suspects, under which the deceased woman’s husband, Ghulam Murtaza, received Rs8.5 million, while her father, Sajid, received Rs2.5 million.
It further said that the court had granted bail to the accused. Responding to the development, Maryam Nawaz wrote briefly: “I rest my case.”
The case was originally registered by the Bhati Gate Police Station following the incident involving the mother and daughter. Legal proceedings continued until the matter was resolved through compromise.
