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

13. That it is alleged that on 27-6-88,17 more detenus who were released by (the court
were abducted from Sialkot from the Bhatta of Chaudhry Rashid, Thana Badyana,
and further alleged that ASI Yunus, Rao Qayum (Bhatta owner) and his companions
abducted the alleged abductees in a Mazda Wagon LHB 3693 at 03-00 a.m. early
morning. It is further claimed that in all twenty persons came to abduct the detenus.
14. That on the same day (i.e. 27.6.88) a telegram was sent by the relatives of the
alleged abductees to Deputy Inspector-General Police, Mr. Justice Fazal Karim, the
Governor Punjab, Chief Minister Punjab and Chief Justice of Lahore High Court
Lahore (Annexure 'C').
15. That on 17-7-88 the office of Superintendent Criminal issued a notice to Rehmat
Masih to appear before the officer on special duty (judicial). This notice was intimated
to counsel for the Petitioner (Rehmat Masih), Mrs. Asma Jahangir on 23-7-88. In the
meanwhile two more persons were allegedly abducted around 20-7-88 and hence
Rehmat Masih along with his cousin Darshan Masih gave another set of telegrams,
one of which was received by the Honourable Supreme Court.
16. That on 11-7-88 one Meher Masih also gave an application to D.I-G Lahore
regarding the same abduction. Number of the application is 389-CC DIG, dated 11-7-
88. (Annexure 'D'). This matter was marked to SSP, Lahore.
17. That Mrs. Asma Jahangir, counsel for the Petitioner (Rehmat Masih) has no further
information on the whereabouts of her clients.
18. That the Bhatta Mazdoor Mahaz was contacted by me who alleged that one of the
abductees namely daughter-in-law of Rehmat Masih, Bashiran Bibi escaped from the
Bhatta of Yasin Pehlwan, Bhai Pheru and narrates that the women folk of the
abductees were sold to Yasin Pehlwan by ASI Yunus, Bhai Pheru, Rao Riaz and
Rao Qayum (Bhatta owners) whereas the menfolk namely Rehmat, (the author of the
telegram) Yakub, and Liaqat husband of Bashiran are cither illegally confined at the
Bhatta of Abdul Qayum or are in police custody.
19. That it is also alleged that the womenfolk have been physically abused in many
cases.
20. The upshot of this entire scenario being gross allegations which require investigation
at a high level as influential persons are involved and it is claimed that they are aided
and given full co-operation by the police.
21. That while concluding my report I submit before this Honourable Court that only longterm
measures can solve this problem as bonded labour seems widespread.
22. That after having made this investigation I would humbly submit that bonded labour
is prohibited by the Constitution of Pakistan but the punishment for this offence under
the Pakistan Penal Laws is only one month.
23. That since 1971 The Factories Act applies to brick-kiln industries in Punjab but is not
being enforced.
Dated 13August, 1988.
REPORT II BY ABDUS SATTAR NAJAM, ADVOCATE
It is respectfully submitted:
BRIEF NOTE:
I have already brought on the record of this Hon'ble Court documents relevant to the matter
in issue as Annexures to my report submitted earlier on 16-8-1988. A separate report
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