LHC orders release of brick kiln workers

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court ordered the release of 22 kiln workers, including six women and 11 children.

Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan passed the orders while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Ghulam Sabir for the production and release of kiln workers.

Earlier, a bailiff produced the kiln workers before the court after recovering them from the custody of a Sahiwal brick kiln owner.

The bailiff reported that the workers had been detained by the kiln’s owner. The petitioner's counsel argued before the court that the respondent owner was extracting forced labour from the workers and they were not being paid according to market rates. However, the respondent's counsel submitted that the workers had received advance cash and were being paid regularly. The court ordered the release of workers besides action against the brick kiln owner.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20^th, 2019.