In a tragic turn of events, Yasmeen Bibi and her family find themselves trapped in the vicious cycle of bonded labor at a brick kiln near Lahore.
What started as a loan borrowed for her daughter’s marriage has plunged them into an abyss of debt and oppression.
This article sheds light on the harrowing experiences faced by Yasmeen Bibi and her family, highlighting the exploitative practices of their employer and the failure of the authorities to provide justice.
Yasmeen Bibi, a 36-year-old woman and elder sister of deceased brick-kiln worker Shama who was killed for blasphemy in 2014 (click here), had taken a loan from her former employer, Rana Ajmal, to fund her eldest daughter’s marriage.
However, the loan repayment system imposed by the oppressive owner locked Yasmeen’s family further into bonded labor. Despite the family’s daily wages being subjected to a 30% deduction, Rana Ajmal states that their debt remains unresolved -they say it has been paid. Yasmeen’s family left his kiln a month ago and joined one where they were being paid a fair salary.
In a shocking act of aggression, armed thugs kidnapped several members of Yasmeen’s family around 10.30 on 10th June 2023. Her husband, Maratab Masih (36 yrs), their two sons, Fariyad (20 yrs) and Bilal (18 yrs), and daughter-in-law, Anam (17 yrs), were forcibly taken hostage. Almost a score of armed men, acting on behalf of their former brick kiln owner, made brazen threats against anyone who dared to intervene. They arrived on three motorbikes and a jeep, and cared not that they were trespassing into the labour quarters of the brick kiln of Haji Mushtaq, where the Christian family are currently working.
When the armed men first entered the family’s makeshift home only her daughter in law Anam, and a daughter Gulnaz (15 yrs) were present. The attackers verbally abused and beat the women.
Muhammad Babar, one of the armed men, said:
“We have come to get you back for Rana Saab.
“There is no place where you can dirty chooras (pejorative word meaning low-class and caste).
“We will find you even if you are in hell!”
Maratib Masih spoke with British Asian Christian Association, he said:
“I was working in the brick kilns with my two sons.
“We heard some shouting from the slave quarters and rushed to see what was happening with many other brick kiln workers.
“The shouting was coming from our house and when we entered the culprits beat us with pistols and took us hostage.
“Our neighbours gathered around on hearing the commotion but did nothing as they were threatened with death.”
“One of the armed men yelled ‘Stay where you are! Do not try to meddle or rescue these dirty chooras or you will be killed!””
The culprits forcefully led members of Yasmeen Bibi’s family to a nearby jeep and drove away with them, beating the males and abusing the family at will. Yasmeen immediately called the police for help. Within 20 minutes, two police constables, from Jia Bagga Police station, arrived at the house and started an investigation. The police constables told Yasmeen to go to the police station for further action. She arrived at City Police Station, in Raiwind, and submitted a written application for police action against the culprits who have kidnapped her family members forcefully and insulted the women in the house.
Yasmeen Bibi, explained further:
“Police were asking me to pay back the money for the loan, but we believe we have paid it off.
“We were verbally told that after 10 years our debt would be settled.
“My husband and two sons worked hard to repay the loan we borrowed, however, he took money away from our salary, yet the loan still remains?
“We have no other source of income with which to pay any money and now Rana is saying we have not paid him back.
“He wants to enslave us forever.
“He was brutal with us when we worked on his kiln and will be worse now – but the police are not listening.”
Yasmeen Bibi turned to the police for assistance, but their response was disappointing. Two constables from Jia Bagga Police Station arrived within 20 minutes, they did not start an investigation. Instead they told her to attend the main police station for the area. Despite filing a written application [First Incident Report (FIR)] at the City Police Station in Raiwind, Assistant Sub Inspector, Muhammad Asghar advised her to repay the money owed to Rana Ajmal to secure the release of her family members. This lack of support from the authorities only added to the despair faced by the victims.
To further intensify the ordeal, Rana Ajmal manipulated the situation by bringing the kidnapped family members before a session judge. In a distressing turn of events, he coerced them into providing statements in his favor, denying any form of coercion or abduction. This manipulation serves as a grim reminder of the power imbalance and vulnerability faced by bonded laborers like Yasmeen Bibi and her family.
Yasmeen Bibi, added:
“We worked at Rana Ajmal’s, brick kiln factory for 11 years.
“He paid us less than other workers
“My husband and I with my two sons made 3000 bricks daily and were only paid 1,800 Rs (£4.99) instead of 3,000 Rs (£8.32).
“Mr Rana also deducted 1,200 Rs (£3.33) from our daily wages to pay for the 400,000 Rs (£1094) loan.
“With such little salary, it was hard to feed our large family- I have seven children and am expecting another in two months.
“We had paid back more than the amount borrowed in a year and we did the same for way more than the 5 years asked.
“We left Rana’s brick kiln and started working at the brick kiln of Haji Mushtaq in Jia Bagga last month to escape the injustice.”
Adding to the family’s plight was the fact that Rana Ajmal never maintained accurate records of the loan repayments. As a result, despite their efforts to clear the debt and belief it is resolved, it continues to loom over them, contributing to their vulnerable situation.
The case of Yasmeen Bibi and her family highlights the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the protection of labor rights and the eradication of bonded labor. It is crucial for the authorities to intervene promptly, ensuring the safe release of Fariyad and Anam from the clutches of their oppressor, Mr Ajmal. Additionally, strict measures must be implemented to address exploitative labor practices, ensuring fair wages and transparent record-keeping in the brick kiln industry.
Yasmeen has asked for help to release her son Fariyad and his wife Anam from the clutches of Mr Ajmal. Her husband and other son have been returned but these two are made to pay of the loan with no idea of how long they will be kept captive. Mr Ajmal has agreed their release on a payment of 400,000 Pak-rupees £1094. British Asian Christian Association are loathe to ay this but can see no other option open to a family being ignored by Pak-authorities. If you would like to help us free Fariyad and Anam from Captivity please donate to our Emancipation of slaves fund (here).
Juliet Chowdhry, Trustee for British Asian Christian, said:
“This account of Yasmeen Bibi and her family is a distressing testament to the realities faced by countless individuals trapped in bonded labour.
“Their struggle for freedom and justice serves as a stark reminder of the need to combat exploitative practices and protect the rights of vulnerable workers.
“Pakistan’s Bonded Labour System [Abolition} Act 1990 has failed to eradicate slavery, because people in authority are bigoted or bribed.
“It is imperative that Pak-society as a whole rallies together to bring an end to such injustices, providing a glimmer of hope for individuals like Yasmeen Bibi and her family who remain trapped in the thrall of slavery.”
