Her name was Sadia, she was twenty-four years' old. Her daughter, whose name was Rida Fatima, was ten months' old. The young woman, and her infant daughter, died in Lahore last week. They fell into an open manhole near Bhati gate. The death was followed up, not by a serious inquiry, but a serious effort to cover up criminal, or more aptly deathly, negligence. Reports have emerged that police tortured the husband of the deceased young woman to get him to confess her murder. This is both awful and all too familiar. To her credit, the Chief Minister took notice and issued a public apology. This is both important and the right thing to do in a culture where public apology is the rarest of deeds. Yet, it remains to be seen whether there is any actual change on the ground – proverbially and literally.

His name was Ibrahim. He was three years' old. In early December, he died as he fell into an open manhole in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Karachi. Later, in the same month, eight-year-old........

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