A Christian family with seven minor children, four females, and three males faces serious threats from false theft accusations by local landlords (farmer). The male members were tortured and detained illegally at the Sadar police station in Nankana Sahib. Through CLAAS legal intervention they were secured and accommodated in the shelter.
Gulshan, 36, daughter of the late Naseer, lives in Pathar Wali Village, 167 R-B, Shahkot District Nankana Sahib. On November 13, 2024, she approached for legal assistance from CLAAS for the illegal detention of her brothers, Zulfiqar, 29, and Tanvir, 27. The troubles arose in March 2024 when local landlords reported thefts of goats and equipment. Without evidence, the police accused her brother Nadeem, who struggles with drug addiction. Though no official theft report had been filed, the landlords extorted 350,000 PKR from the family to avoid complications. They managed to arrange the money and paid the village landlord so they could live without any issues.
After four months again tension arose for them when on November 8, 2024, the police arrested Nadeem, Zulfiqar and Tanvir in connection with a missing buffalo, despite not recovering it from them. Subsequently police sent Nadeem to jail on drug-related charges. Tanvir and Zulifqar faced torture and pressure from the police and landlords to confess to theft, but they remained innocent.
Gulshan and her family, which includes seven minor children, have struggled due to the lack of cooperation from landlords and police. The police refuse to release her brothers, claiming a theft case is registered, and have denied her request to get the First Information Report (FIR). Gulshan is working in a garment factory for six years and has three married brothers and two married sisters.
Gulshan's brother Zulfiqar is married to Sidra, and they have four children: Ramish (13), Adan (10), Purab (8), and Dua (6). Her other brother, Tanvir, 27, is married to Bushra and has three kids: Daim (6), Saim (4), and Persickla (2). Gulshan, who was a victim of rape and received support from CLAAS in 2008, is now requesting legal help for her current situation and shelter support with family members.
CLAAS appointed legal advisor Mr. Akhtar Masih Sindhu to handle court procedures for the recovery of Tanvir and Zulfiqar. On November 14, 2024, after learning that her brothers had been presented in court due to an FIR, Gulshan and the lawyer traveled from Lahore to Shahkot District, Nankana Sahib, but found that the brothers were not produced in court. The next day, the lawyer filed a Habeas Corpus Petition on behalf of Gulshan.
The court appointed a bailiff to help recover the brothers, who were found to be detained illegally with no FIR against them. However, due to a court holiday on November 16, 2024, proceedings were delayed. When the bailiff brought the brothers to the Lahore High Court on November 17, 2024, police presented an FIR No. 793/2024 in which was registered against unknown persons by the complainant Muhammad Aslam and police justified to arrest of both brothers in that FIR by saying that complainant nominated them in supplementary statement.
The court after knowing the facts granted protective bail to Zulfiqar and Tanvir till November 21, 2024. The learned Judge also directed to the District Police Officer Nankana Sahib to inquire the matter of illegal confinement of the detainees and if any officials found involved in illegal confinement, he shall proceed against the delinquent in accordance with law. The petition disposed of on November 18, 2024 and after getting the copy of FIR on November 20, 2024 pre-arrest bail of Zulfiqar and Tanvir were moved in the court of Session Judge Shahkot and the bails were accepted till November 28, 2024.
Zulfiqar and Tanvir visited the office and confirmed their sister Gulshan's account of their situation. They stated that the landlord pays them low wages for fieldwork while also claiming debts from them. They noted that they were the only ones in their community speaking out against the injustices and violence of the landlords. As a consequence, the landlords have accused them of theft. Given the circumstances, they expressed security concerns and did not wish to return to their hometown. Woman and children were provided shelter in Apna Ghar whereas male members were staying in Lahore with their relatives
