Over 30 Afghan bonded labourers freed from brick kiln

Police say rescued families face possible repatriation

RAWALPINDI:

A joint team of a court official and police officials has freed 30 Afghan nationals including women and children detained illegally following a raid on a brick kiln.

Acting on a court’s directives, the bailiff conducted the raid and rescued the Afghan refugees, who were herded into bonded labour without basic amenities, and produced them before the court.

Two members of one of the refugee families however are still missing while the owner of the brick kiln managed to escape from the spot during the raid, according to the police.

The Afghan families, who had fled the unrest back home, fetched up in the brick kiln as they were lured by employment opportunities but were forced to work with no income and proper food.

“The rescued Afghans were starving and had not eaten for several days,” the police said, sharing the ordeal of the families forced to stay put in inhumane working conditions. The families began to cry for help when they saw the police officials on the premises.

Meanwhile, as part of further investigations, the authorities have sought relevant information from the National Database and Registration Authority and Federal Investigation Agency regarding the identities and visas of the Afghan nationals.

In addition, medical tests will be conducted to detect torture, following which a case will be registered against the owner of the brick kiln.

As for the refugees, the police said arrangements were being made to either relocate the rescued families to appropriate refugee camps or repatriate them to Afghanistan in collaboration with the federal government. The Afghan embassy will also be informed about the families, they added.

Afghanistan was catapulted into uncertainty after the Taliban seized power last year, triggering a mass exodus from the war-ravaged country. Thousands of people have crossed into Pakistan seeking asylum.