On 1 Dec 2010, JusticeMaker 2010 Waqas Abid met with the well-regarded lawyer Ch. Imtiaz Ahmed, the former Vice-President of the Kasur District Bar Association. Mr. Ahmed has, for the past 19 years, devoted himself to the legal representation of marginalized members of Kasur society. Like many other lawyers, Mr. Ahmed works in the open courtyard of Kasur’s District Courts, where he provides free legal advice and legal aid for bonded labourers, loom workers, poor farmers and minorities. Waqas met him there to discuss his project: a comprehensive advisement of rights campaign for brick-kiln works in Kasur District.

Mr. Ahmed expressed full support for Waqas’ project. He stated that human rights violations exist in many forms other than torture, and are widespread throughout Kasur. He pointed out that forced labour is a human rights violation, and provided some statistics: although the government has mandated a minimum wage of Rs. 520 (US$6) for every 1,000 bricks made, workers tend to earn only half this salary. According to Mr. Ahmed, this explicit exploitation is engendered by endemic corruption, which gives the landowners significant influence, and the ability to ignore the laws.

Problems are further exacerbated by allegedly illegitimate criminal cases.  In Mr. Ahmed’s experience, poor labourers and farmers are often arrested and tortured without cause. The police additionally don’t offer bail to the indigent accused, although the wealthy and influential can easily avail themselves of this option. Complaints about ill-treatment are not usually raised, due to fear of recrimination against people who report violations.

Mr. Ahmed will continue his work to address these problems by providing legal aid to the needy; his life’s work proves there is a need for projects such Waqas’, which likewise cater to vulnerable populations.