Christian Slaves Freed In Pakistan
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – A Christian family held as modern-day enslaved people by a Muslim brick kiln owner in Pakistan has been rescued, Christians involved in the case told Worthy News Tuesday.
The family of 10 “was freed after legal intervention, having been forced into bonded labor for years due to an unpaid debt. The rescue took place at the brick kiln in [the city of] Phool Nagar” in the Kasur District of Pakistan’s Punjab province “with help from the courts,” said Mushtaq Gill, the founder of Christian charity LEAD Ministries Pakistan.
Pastor Imran Amanat of LEAD Ministries Pakistan thanked “those involved in the operation and stressed the need to end bonded labor.”
He urged “stricter action against exploitative employers in industries like brickmaking.”
Despite the rescue of Asif Masih, his wife Sajidi Bjbi, and their children, Christians remain concerned about their future. The brick kiln owner, publicly identified as Jahangir Baig, “continues to threaten the family, causing ongoing fear for their safety,” Gill told Worthy News.
The case highlights the continuing problem of bonded labor in Pakistan, a system in which generations are forced to pay off debts in circumstances compared to slavery by observers.
“The Christian community, which constitutes a small percentage of the population in Pakistan, is disproportionately affected by bonded labor,” Gill said.
RAMPANT POVERTY
“Many members of this community live in poverty and are vulnerable to exploitation. Despite legal protections, the enforcement of these laws remains weak, leaving countless individuals trapped in a cycle of servitude.”
Pakistan has 2.3 million people, nearly one percent of the population, working in conditions it labels modern slavery, according to the Global Slavery Index.
The Lahore-based advocacy organization Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF) assumes this number to be much higher.
The Labour and Resource Department Punjab defines bonded labor as “a system of forced, or partly forced, labor under which a debtor enters, or is presumed to have entered into an agreement with the creditor.”
This definition describes an environment under which individuals are forced into labor, which Gill suggested is the harsh daily reality of many Christian workers.
“Christian communities are trapped in a cycle of exploitation where generations are born into debt and forced into labor. The situation has garnered significant attention. But despite the outcry, little has been done to address the systemic abuse that these individuals suffer daily” in the mainly Muslim nation, he stressed.
If you are interested in articles produced by Worthy News, please check out our FREE sydication service available to churches or online Christian ministries. To find out more, visit Worthy Plugins.