The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday ordered the release of 25 brick kiln workers, including women and children, who had been kept in illegal confinement.
Justice Tanveer Ahmed Sheikh heard a petition filed by Muhammad Hassan, during which the police produced the brick kiln workers, along with their children, after recovering them from illegal confinement.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel informed the court that brick kiln owners Rana Dildar and Rana Akram, operating in Raiwind, had unlawfully confined the workers and were not paying them wages in accordance with the approved rates under the relevant laws.
Counsel for the brick kiln owners denied the allegations, maintaining that the workers had received advance payments and were working voluntarily under an agreement.
After hearing the arguments of both sides and recording the statements of the brick kiln workers, the court observed that the workers were free citizens and could not be forcibly detained. The court subsequently ordered the immediate release of all 25 brick kiln workers.
Separately, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the release of eight labourers who were found to be illegally detained by a local landlord.
Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard a petition filed by Zahida Bibi, a resident of Mandi Bahauddin, who alleged that a landlord of village Thatti Murid had unlawfully confined nine individuals, including children, at his dera.
During the proceedings, court bailiff Tanveer Hussain produced eight detainees before the court after recovering them from the landlord’s illegal custody. The bailiff informed the court that the recovery was carried out during a raid at the landlord’s dera with the assistance of local police.
According to the bailiff’s report, the recovery operation was met with strong resistance from the landlord and his associates. After nearly 12 hours of effort, eight detainees were successfully recovered. However, one detainee, identified as Ghulam Nabi, could not be recovered.
Taking notice of the matter, the court ordered the immediate release of all recovered detainees and directed the concerned station house officer (SHO) to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident and ensure the recovery of the remaining detainee, Ghulam Nabi.
Earlier, the court had appointed Tanveer Hussain as bailiff with directions to recover all illegally detained persons and produce them before the court.