Judical Action to end Bonded Labour - Human Rights Commission ...

as also Ch. Muhammad Zar, Director Labour Welfare, did not attend the meeting because of
their pre-occupations. The other participants deliberated on this issue and presented their
suggestions. The meeting was finally concluded at 3-30 p.m. A final report would be
submitted by the learned Advocate-General within two days.
Respectfully submitted by:
Dated: 27-8-1988.
REPORT SUBMITTED BY
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(Tanvir Ahmad Khan),
Additional Advocate General
Punjab, Lahore.
MR. KHALIL RAMDEY, ADVOCATE-GENERAL. PUNJAB
The Hon'ble Supreme Court took cognizance of the matter in pursuance of a
telegram submitted by Darshan Masih (Rehmatey) and 20 others regarding the abduction,
illegal detention and maltreatment of certain brick-kiln workers by the owners of such kilns.
2. The Hon'ble Court was pleased to direct the Inspector-General of Police, Punjab to
trace out the persons concerned and to submit a report before this Hon'ble Court. The
President of the Lahore High Court Bar Association was also directed to depute a senior
member of the Bar for rendering assistance to the Hon'ble Court in the matter.
3. Through an order dated 11-8-1988 this Hon'ble Court .was further pleased to
direct the Advocate-General, Punjab to also be of assistance to the Hon'ble Court in this
matter.
4. In pursuance of these directions this humble servant of the Hon'ble Court
contacted the concerned Police authorities and was informed that 21 persons who were the -
alleged detenus, were involved in an F.I.R. registered at Police Station Bhai Pheru of District
Kasur for the alleged commission of offences punishable under sections 406/420 of the
Pakistan Penal Code. This FIR had been recorded at the instance of the owner of the brickkiln
who was the employer of the aforesaid alleged detenus. The undersigned was also
informed that some out of the aforesaid 21 persons had been arrested out of whom some
had been released on bail by the Ilaqa Magistrate; that 3 of them were still under arrest with
the Police whereas the remaining 5 had not been available to the police and thus had not
been arrested. . .
5. The undersigned directed the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kasur, the Deputy
Inspector-General of Police, Lahore and the Deputy Inspector General of Police
(Headquarters), Punjab to produce all the persons involved/arrested in pursuance of the
aforesaid F.I.R. before the undersigned on 13-8-1988 at 8 a.m. for their onward production
before the Hon'ble Supreme Court.
6. The said persons were so produced on the said date. The Deputy Superintendent
of Police, Pattoki, the Station House Officer of Police Station Bhai Pheru and the
Investigating Officer of the aforesaid case also appeared before the Hon'ble Supreme Court
where My Lord of the Supreme Court was pleased to continue the proceedings till late in the
evening i.e. till after 4-30 p.m. on 13-8-1988 on account of the importance of the matter. After
13-8-1988 the matter came up for hearing before My Lord of the Hon'ble Supreme Court on
certain other dates of hearing also wherein representatives of the brick-kiln owners,
representatives of brick-kiln workers, representatives of Bhatta Mazdoor Union,
representatives of the Labour Department of Government of Punjab also participated and
made their respective submissions before the Hon'ble Supreme Court.