The project manager, Asghar Sandhu, safety in-charge Hanzala, and site in-charge Ahmed Nawaz were presented in court, while contractors Salman Yaseen and Usman Yaseen were produced in police custody.

Kareem, a BS-21 officer of the Police Service of Pakistan, will replace Dr Usman Anwar, who has been transferred and posted as the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency.

According to reports, police had initially asked for a 14-day remand for the accused, but Judge Shafqat Abbas granted a four-day remand, directing investigators to complete the investigation and present the suspects again on February 3 before the court.

Speaking to the media in Shorkot, Ghulam Murtaza said that Rescue 1122 initially termed the incident as fake news after his wife and daughter fell into the sewer.