LAHORE – Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Sardar Ahmad Naeem on Friday ordered the release of 28 brick kiln workers – including women and children – who were recovered from the detention of a brick kiln owner Sabir Hussain of Alipur Chatha Mandi.
The judge also ordered for medical examination of the recovered kiln workers, so legal action could be taken against Sabir. The court ordered their release on a habeas corpus petition moved by a lady, relative of the detainees, seeking release of her 28 family members from detention of Sabir.
The petitioner had submitted that the kiln owners violated the agreement and never paid them salary according to the agreement and when they made demand for their wages, Sabir detained them. He had said that on their demand for the salary, the owner started demanding forced labour and did not allow them to go outside the kiln.
He also alleged that the detainees were kept in chain and were being subjected to torture and forced labour by the kiln owner. He said that all these workers were not allowed to go outside. He requested to depute a bailiff for recovery of all detainees.
On court direction, a bailiff raided the kiln of Sabir and recovered all 28 detained workers and produced them before court. Bailiff in his report submitted that detaines had been recovered from the detention of kiln owner. After bailiff’s report, the judge ordered to set the detainees at liberty.
