Landlord cruelty

In what can only be described as horrifying and cruel beyond words, a landlord in Sargodha abducted and killed his young employee on suspicion of theft. The landlord, later arrested by the police, admitted to killing the employee in a 'fit of rage' and disposing of his body in a sugarcane field. In Pakistan, the plight of farm workers is marked by systemic exploitation and abuse at the hands of landlords. These workers, often migrants from rural areas seeking better opportunities, find themselves ensnared in a cycle of cruelty that strips them of basic human dignity and rights. They work long hours under the harsh sun, yet their compensation is meagre and often delayed. The wages they receive are insufficient to cover even their basic needs, forcing many into a precarious existence. This financial exploitation is compounded by physical abuse. Reports of landlords resorting to violence to enforce discipline or extract more work are disturbingly common.

The legal framework intended to protect these workers is either inadequate or poorly enforced. Labour laws in Pakistan are often ignored, and workers are left with little recourse. They lack access to fair grievance mechanisms or adequate representation, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation without hope of redress. This systemic cruelty is not merely a matter of individual misconduct but a reflection of entrenched socio-economic inequalities. Landlords wield significant power and influence. For real change to occur, there must be a concerted effort to reform labour laws, strengthen enforcement and ensure that farm workers receive fair treatment and adequate compensation. Addressing these issues requires a shift in both policy and mindset. The plight of farm workers should be met with empathy and actionable reforms, not mere token gestures. In this particular case, the police must ensure provision of justice free from undue influence.