21 captive kiln workers rescued

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday ordered the release of 21 labourers, including women and children, rescued by police from a kiln near Samundri.

Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh presided over the hearing on petitions filed by Shahid Masih and Ishtiaq regarding illegal confinement of brick-kiln workers.

During the proceedings, Dijkot police produced the rescued workers, including children, before the court.

The petitioners' counsel, Advocate Suhail Shahid Gull, informed the court that kiln owner Anwar Gujar had kept the labourers in unlawful detention for the past four years and was not paying them wages as per government labour laws.

The kiln owner's legal representative argued that the labourers had taken advance payments and were working voluntarily under a mutual agreement.