PATTOKI, KASUR, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN: LEAD Ministries has received an account from Iftikhar Masih, a Christian man who says he has been left facing a substantial financial burden after three Muslim families were released from alleged bonded labour through habeas corpus proceedings.

According to the facts and allegations presented by Iftikhar Masih to LEAD Ministries, the families had been working at a brick kiln in Tehsil Pattoki, District Kasur, after receiving approximately PKR 1.2 million (12 lakh) in advance or debt from the brick-kiln owner.

Iftikhar’s account has raised concerns within LEAD Ministries about what can happen when workers are released from an alleged bonded-labour arrangement through legal proceedings while a disputed financial obligation remains and is subsequently pursued against a guarantor.

A Christian Survivor’s Journey from Bonded Labour

Iftikhar Masih also shared his own experience with LEAD Ministries, explaining how he was previously rescued from bonded labour after a Christian organization helped settle his outstanding debt.

According to Iftikhar, after his debt was settled and he was freed from bonded labour, he was able to start a new life. He now operates a small karyana (general) shop, through which he earns an independent livelihood.

His experience of rehabilitation, however, has also made him concerned about another case in which, according to his account, a poor Christian guarantor has been left facing a significant financial obligation.

Dispute Involving Three Muslim Families

According to the account given by Iftikhar Masih to LEAD Ministries, three Muslim families, described as Masali/Muslim Sheikh families and comprising approximately 12 family members, originally came from the Jaatri area of Sheikhupura District.

Iftikhar told LEAD Ministries that the families had received approximately PKR 1.2 million (12 lakh) from a brick-kiln owner in Tehsil Pattoki, District Kasur, and subsequently worked at the brick kiln.

According to Iftikhar’s account, the families last year approached the High Court through habeas corpus proceedings and were subsequently released from the brick kiln.

Iftikhar further told LEAD Ministries that, following the proceedings, the families were no longer required to repay the claimed amount to the brick-kiln owner.

The precise contents and findings of the relevant court proceedings have not been independently examined for this report. The legal status of the alleged debt therefore remains a matter requiring verification through the relevant court records and financial documents.

Iftikhar Masih Says the Debt Was Left with Him

The central concern described by Iftikhar to LEAD Ministries is his position as a guarantor.

According to Iftikhar, he had stood as guarantor when the families received the money from the brick-kiln owner. He told LEAD Ministries that after the families were released through the legal process, the brick-kiln owner turned to him for repayment.

Iftikhar says he is now being asked to bear responsibility for approximately PKR 1.2 million, together with around PKR 100,000 in legal expenses, which he says the brick-kiln owner claims were incurred during the proceedings.

Iftikhar told LEAD Ministries that, as a local person who had acted as guarantor, he feels he has little practical alternative but to face the financial demand.

According to Iftikhar’s description of the brick-kiln owner’s position, the owner considers the debt recoverable from the guarantor after the families were released.

Iftikhar’s Account of What Happened Before the Court Case

Iftikhar also told LEAD Ministries that, according to his knowledge, there had been no physical dispute or mistreatment at the brick kiln before the families left to pursue the legal proceedings.

He alleged that the families went to court without informing the brick-kiln owner and that allegations of torture and mistreatment were subsequently made during the habeas corpus proceedings.

These statements are Iftikhar Masih’s account to LEAD Ministries and have not been independently verified. The families concerned, the brick-kiln owner and their respective legal representatives should have an opportunity to provide their accounts and respond to these allegations.

Pastor Imran Amanat Raises Wider Concerns

Based on the account presented to LEAD Ministries, Pastor Imran Amanat, head of LEAD Ministries, has raised broader concerns about the consequences of using habeas corpus proceedings in bonded-labour disputes where outstanding debts, guarantors and competing accounts are also involved.

Pastor Imran Amanat’s concern is not that people subjected to genuine bonded labour should be denied protection or freedom. Rather, he believes that the rescue of workers should be accompanied by proper consideration of the underlying financial dispute and the position of any guarantor.

From LEAD Ministries’ perspective, if a vulnerable family is released from an alleged bonded-labour arrangement while another poor and vulnerable person is subsequently left facing the disputed financial burden, the situation can create another serious humanitarian problem.

The issue therefore involves more than the release of workers. It also raises questions about the nature of the original advance, the legal status of the debt, the obligations of a guarantor, and how all vulnerable parties can be protected.

Rehabilitation After Rescue

Iftikhar’s own experience is also being highlighted by LEAD Ministries as an example of the importance of rehabilitation.

According to Iftikhar, after a Christian organization helped settle his debt and he was released from bonded labour, he was able to establish his small karyana shop and begin earning an independent livelihood.

For LEAD Ministries, this demonstrates that rescue should ideally be followed by rehabilitation, debt resolution and sustainable employment, rather than simply removing a person from one workplace without addressing the circumstances that contributed to bonded labour.

According to the information Iftikhar provided to LEAD Ministries, the three families involved in the Pattoki case are now working at another brick kiln in Kot Abdul Malik.

LEAD Ministries’ Vision to Rescue Christians from Bonded Labour

LEAD Ministries says its mission is to help rescue Christian brothers and sisters trapped in bonded labour and living in harsh and vulnerable circumstances. The organization is concerned that severe poverty, debt and dependence can leave Christian families vulnerable to exploitation and, in some circumstances, pressure affecting their ability to freely practice their faith.

LEAD Ministries says it has encountered cases involving Christian families whose circumstances have changed over time. In the case discussed in this report, the three families are described by Iftikhar as families who were formerly Christian but converted to Islam approximately five years ago and are now identified as Muslim/Masali/Muslim Sheikh families. The circumstances and reasons for their conversion have not been independently established.

Through its work, LEAD Ministries seeks to support vulnerable Christians through rescue, legal assistance, rehabilitation and economic support, with the aim of helping families protect their Christian faith and build a safer and better future. LEAD Ministries also views this work as an important part of church planting and strengthening the Christian community, because protecting vulnerable Christian families and helping them remain rooted in their faith can create opportunities for Christian fellowship, discipleship and the growth of local churches. The organization is calling on blessed brothers and sisters around the world to stand with LEAD Ministries in its vision of protecting Christians from violence, persecution, exploitation and bonded labour, while helping vulnerable and rescued families rebuild their lives with dignity, freedom, security and hope for a better future.