KARACHI: A district and sessions court has ordered the Shah Latif Town police to record the statement of a man against directors of the Malir Development Authority (MDA) and other officials and proceed in accordance with law in connection with the death of a four-year-old child who fell into an open manhole in Shah Latif Town a couple of months ago.

“The matter pertains to very serious nature allegations against the proposed accused persons which require a proper and detailed enquiry into the matter,” Additional District and Sessions Judge (Malir) Muhammad Ashfaque Mughal observed while disposing of an application filed by Ghazi Khan.

The applicant had approached the court under Sections 22-A and 22-B of the criminal procedure code (CrPC), seeking directives for the registration of an FIR and recording of statements against MDA directors Laiq Ahmed Khan, Adnan, the deputy commissioner of Malir, chairman and vice chairman of local bodies and other officials.

He alleged that their negligence and carelessness led to the death of his grandson Mohsin Lashari, who fell into an open manhole near his home in Shah Latif Town.

The judge directed the SHO of Shah Latif Town to record the statement of the applicant under Section 154 of the CrPC and proceed further as per law against the proposed accused persons.

The applicant submitted that in March his grandson had left home to buy something. When the child did not return, the family searched the neighbourhood and found him in an open gutter. Area residents managed to retrieve the body and took it to hospital.

The applicant further stated that he had approached the respondent SHO concerned to lodge complaints against the MDA directors and other officials and to record his statement under Section 154 of the CrPC. However, he alleged that his complaint was not duly acknowledged.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2024