Chenab Club Faisalabad Tragedy: Father Seeks Justice

By Saleem Mubarak

For over a century, the Chenab Club of Faisalabad, established in 1910, has been a sanctuary for the elite—a place of leisure.

But for Saud Riaz, it became the site of an unthinkable nightmare when his ten-year-old son breathed his last on February 6 at the club’s swimming pool. He entered the water for a swim in preparation for a swimming gala; however, he never came home.

Now, a grieving father stands alone against a wall of alleged wilful silence, missing CCTV footage and official claims of ‘cardiac arrest’ that contradict what he saw with his own eyes.

This isn’t just a story about a tragic accident at the club; it’s a desperate quest for accountability in a system where the truth seems to have been deleted along with the video.

The father of Muhammad Ahmad Saud who drowned at the Chenab Club Faisalabad has been running from pillar to post for weeks to seek justice, but to no avail so far.

The Deputy Commissioner Faisalabad said no incident of drowning took place at the club, claiming that Mr Saud was present at the spot when his son’s condition deteriorated.

Tragic Accident and Failed Rescue Efforts

Talking to Grand Lines, Saud Riaz, a Canadian national of Pakistani origin, said that he had visited the club on Feb 6 with his son for swimming. He said he was at the Chenab Club swimming pool with his son, who was also a Canadian national.

At about 8:35 am, Ahmad suddenly became unconscious and started floating on the surface of the pool.

He said that he, along with other club members, took Ahmad out of the pool and gave CPR for 10–12 minutes. Water also started coming out of his lungs, he added.

“When I raised an alarm and asked for help, no on-duty doctor or medical assistance was provided by the club. Later, a Rescue 1122 ambulance arrived at the scene and shifted my son to the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, but he could not survive.”

Missing CCTV and Alleged Club Negligence

He categorically said that the Chenab Club administration was fully responsible for his son’s untimely death. There was no lifeguard present at the scene, although club records show that a permanent lifeguard was appointed.

Saud said that none of the trainers present had CPR training. No doctor was appointed by the club and no ambulance was available. Because of the lack of immediate medical aid, his son could not receive timely treatment and passed away.

He said that he had requested the club administration to provide CCTV footage of the incident so that he could ascertain the facts surrounding his son’s death. However, the administration told him that the footage was missing.

It is pertinent to mention that footage recorded before and after the incident exists. However, the footage of the incident itself is missing, he remarked.

The club administration’s refusal to provide the CCTV footage strengthened his suspicions. He said that the incident was witnessed by several members.

Earlier, he said, the administration had promised to provide him with the CCTV footage.

Following the incident, he claimed that the club administration formed a committee only to hush-up the case, rather than to investigate the incident and ensure the safety of other children in the future. He added that club members had never witnessed such an incident since the club’s inception.

Inquiry Committee and Authorities’ Response

Six days after the incident, on Feb 12, the club secretary formed a seven-member committee comprising Muhammad Asif Ch, Rehan Bashir Kahloon, Dr. Muhammad Hanif, Farrukh Ramzan, Basim Yaqub, Dr. Fraz Saeed Qureshi and Usman Zafar (Convener).

The committee has been tasked with ascertaining the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident, conducting a thorough and impartial inquiry by examining all relevant records and statements. It was also tasked with determining the facts leading to the incident, including the issue of the missing CCTV footage.

The committee has been given seven days to submit a comprehensive report with its findings and recommendations.

When the DC was asked about the status of the inquiry committee’s findings, he preferred to remain silent and did not respond to the query.

Responding to the other queries of Grand Lines sent to his cell phone, he said, “There was no drowning incident. It was cardiac arrest. The father of the child was in the pool with him. Moreover, the child was a swimming champion. We have assured all support to the father. He can go for registration of FIR; we will support him in the investigation.”

Father’s Struggle for Justice Continues

Saud said that an application had been submitted to the City Police Officer, Faisalabad, for registration of a case against the administration of the Chenab Club. However, he claimed, the police seemed least interested in taking action against the accused, who are allegedly backed by influential people. He said a police officer had called him in response to his complaint on the CM portal, but nothing has been done on his application.

When questioned about Saud’s allegation that the club management was refusing to provide CCTV footage, the DC said he (Saud) had seen the footage and that it could be verified with the club secretary.

The DC also said that the father should be asked whether he believed any crime had been committed against the child in his presence.

Saud rejected the DC’s claim that his son’s death was due to cardiac arrest, claiming that his son had no medical history of heart problems or any other ailment. He added that victim-blaming was underway and that he was also facing character assassination.

Author Profile

Saleem Mubarak: Award-winning investigative journalist with 20+ years of experience across Pakistan's leading news organisations, including 15+ years as Senior Staff Correspondent at Dawn. Driven by a lifelong passion for investigative journalism and human rights, with a proven record of hard-hitting stories that forced official action — from hospital negligence and illegal land grabs to harassment probes and social injustice. He is the recipient of the K.C. Kulish International Award for Excellence in Print Journalism.