The Lahore High Court on Wednesday ordered the release 17 kiln workers, including eight children, who were recovered from a kiln in Okara.
Justice James Joseph passed these orders while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the relatives of the workers for their production and release.
Earlier, a bailiff produced the detainees before the court after recovering them from illegal custody of brick kiln owner Saeed Khan in Okara.
The bailiff reported that the workers had been detained by the kiln owner and another worker, Hanif, was still in the custody of kiln owner.
At this, the court ordered to release all workers and directed the police to recover Hanif from the illegal custody of the kiln owner besides taking action against him under the law.
The petitioner, through his petition, alleged that the respondent was extracting forced labour from the workers, and that they were not being paid since the last two years.
He prayed the court to issue orders for their production and release.
