The Lahore High Court on Tuesday ordered release of 21 kiln workers, including women and children, who were recovered from a kiln in Okara.

Justice Shehram Sarwar Chaudhry passed these orders while hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Ghulam Qamar, a relative 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 Khalil Ahmad in Okara. The bailiff reported that the workers had been detained by the kiln owner.

At this, the court ordered to release all workers including women and children.

The petitioner through his petition alleged that the respondent owner was extracting forced labour from the workers. He prayed the court to issue orders for their production and release.