Lahore: A deeply concerning case of alleged exploitation and unlawful confinement has emerged from Shahdara, Lahore, where an 18-year-old Christian girl, Saniya, was reportedly held in her employer’s home under restrictive conditions for eight months.

According to her mother, Salma, a widow struggling to support her family through daily wage labour, Saniya was effectively cut off from her family during her employment.

Salma reports that her daughter was not allowed to leave the house, take days off, or maintain regular contact with her family. Over the course of eight months, she was only permitted to meet Saniya once and speak to her briefly on the phone. Despite an agreed monthly salary of Rs. 15,000, Saniya was allegedly paid only Rs. 8,000.

The situation escalated when Salma fell ill in December and requested her daughter’s return home. The request was reportedly denied, and Saniya’s communication with her family was completely cut off thereafter. When Salma later attempted to visit her daughter, she was informed that Saniya had been moved to another location and was not allowed to meet her.

On March 29, 2026, Salma contacted the employer’s family to demand her daughter’s release. She was allegedly told by Faiza, the employer’s mother, that Saniya had caused damages worth Rs. 250,000, including broken crockery and damaged household items. The family demanded this amount as a condition for Saniya’s release. When Salma expressed her inability to pay, she was reportedly asked to send her younger daughter, Rimsha, in exchange.

Salma has further alleged that she was pressured to sign an employment agreement she could not understand and did not consent to.

The case came to light after Salma shared her ordeal with a local pastor, who informed The Edge Foundation. On March 31, 2026, the organization’s team visited the family, documented the case, and provided immediate legal support.

Legal proceedings have since been initiated, with a petition prepared for submission to the Lahore High Court seeking Saniya’s recovery and protection. The Edge Foundation is currently covering all legal and logistical expenses associated with the case.

This case highlights serious concerns regarding the treatment of domestic workers, particularly vulnerable minority women, and raises urgent questions about forced labour, unlawful detention, and access to justice in Pakistan