Sheikhupura: Rustam, a Christian man, lived with his wife, Sadia, and their three sons—Noshe (17 years old), Adan (15 years old), and Musa (7 months old)—in a rented house in Mohallah Islampura, Shahdara, Lahore. Rustam earned a living by driving an auto-rickshaw on a daily wage basis, while Sadia worked as a domestic helper. Despite working hard, the family struggled to meet their daily expenses, pay rent, and cover utility bills. 

In search of a better livelihood, the family accepted an opportunity to work as live-in domestic employees in District Sheikhupura. They believed that living in a servant quarter would eliminate the burden of rent and utility bills and help them secure at least two meals a day. 

Approximately six months ago, the family moved to Jhandiala Sher Khan, District Sheikhupura, where they were provided accommodation in a servant quarter owned by Khalida Bibi, wife of Muhammad Sadiq. Rustam began working as a security guard, while Sadia worked as a domestic helper in Khalida Bibi's home. According to the family, despite their hard work, they received very low wages and continued to struggle financially. 

During the first week of April 2026, Khalida Bibi allegedly informed Rustam that her married daughter, who lives in Lahore Cantonment, wanted to employ Adan as a domestic servant in her home. Rustam refused to send his 15-year-old son to work there. According to the family, this refusal offended Khalida Bibi, who had assumed that Rustam's financial circumstances would prevent him from refusing her request. The family believes that she developed resentment against them following this incident. 

The family further alleges that, in retaliation, Khalida Bibi conspired to implicate Rustam and his family in false criminal cases. 

On 18 April 2026, FIR No. 878/2026 was registered at Housing Colony Police Station, District Sheikhupura, alleging an offence relating to illegal possession of a weapon. On the same day, according to the family, Khalida Bibi's son-in-law took Adan to his house, where he was allegedly beaten and tortured for two days. 

The family alleges that during this period, Adan was forced to confess that he and his father had stolen 9–10 tolas of gold and PKR 250,000. They state that despite severe physical torture, Adan refused to make a false confession because neither he nor his father had committed the alleged theft. The family also alleges that videos of the torture were recorded. After two days, Adan was taken to Housing Colony Police Station, where Rustam had also been arrested. 

According to the family, no illegal weapon was recovered from either Rustam or Adan. Consequently, both were granted bail in FIR No. 878/2026. 

On 21 April 2026, a second case, FIR No. 901/2026, was registered at the same police station under Section 380 of the Pakistan Penal Code, alleging theft. 

Rustam and Adan subsequently filed applications for pre-arrest bail in the theft case. However, on 24 June 2026, their pre-arrest bail applications were dismissed by the Court of the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Ms. Uzma Farnaz. 

Following the dismissal of their bail applications, the family approached HARDS for legal assistance. HARDS appointed Advocate Kashif Alexander to represent Rustam and Adan before the Lahore High Court by filing bail petitions on their behalf. 

The family has since returned to Lahore and is currently living in a rented house. According to them, they continue to live in fear due to the criminal cases pending against Rustam and Adan. They state that they are unable to afford legal expenses, as they were already struggling to meet their basic needs even before these legal proceedings began. 

The family continues to seek justice and requests prayers, legal assistance, and humanitarian support as they pursue legal remedies and defend themselves against the allegations made against them. 

According to human rights activists Mr. Napoleon Qayyum, we strongly condemn this act and we believe that the court will give them justice they deserve.