HYDERABAD, Feb 25: The director of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and convenor of the National Coalition against Bonded Labour, Mr I. A. Rehman, has called for determined efforts to eradicate bonded labour in the country.

He was speaking at a consultation meeting of civil society organizations working against bonded labour at the press club here on Saturday.

He called upon civil society groups to mobilise people to play their role in enforcement of laws relevant to bonded labour. He said that the government always worked under external pressure.

He told the participants about aims and objects of the national coalition which had been formed to work for elimination of bonded labour under a joint fight by civil society groups which needed to play their due role.

He said that national coalition would be activated at the district level as well.

He stressed the need for proper documentation by NGOs in respect of hurdles faced by them for eradicating menace of bonded labour.

He said that they must consolidate a data regarding false implication of liberated haris in criminal cases by police.

He said that this documentation would prove fruitful because mere hearsay would not work adding that federal labour secretary was an officer from police services and he had assured the HRCP to take action in the matter.

“We have to adopt scientific methods in our fight against bonded labour for which all those sections and groups must complete and upgrade their documentation in this context relating to false implication of liberated haris”, the HRCP official said.

He said that the government was also ready to take action in such matters because it has to protect its own interests.

“We have a commercial government and if it fails to adopt positive measures then it will incur losses,” I. A. Rehman said.

He called upon representatives of NGOs to suggest ways and means to solve these problems.

He referred to decision of the Federal Shariat Court which had ruled that Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act 1992 was not anti-Islamic legislation therefore it was necessary to spread this judgement among different circles.

He asked NGOs representatives to discuss whether number of bonded labour was increasing and identify areas which were badly hit by this problem and then the experience should be shared.

He floated idea of something like a unit which should be ready for taking action on complaints of bonded labour and added that a proper strategy was required for addressing the issue which would be circulated among the groups.

The HRCP director said that a proper system of legal aid was to be put in place for tackling court matters which should be monitored instead of discussing problems being faced during the struggle.

He said that the government of Punjab had implemented a proposal in this regard while the Sindh government was also considering. He said that the federal government had announced a revolving fund of Rs100 million for bonded labour issues but it was not released.

“We have a modest record of achievement as far as bonded labour is concerned but we should not be disappointed”, claimed Rehman while referring to issues being faced by NGOs for their anti-bonded labour struggle.

Dr Tauqir Shah of the International Labour Organization said that every government functionary has a social, rural or urban background and this streak was reflected in his approach while dealing with cases of bonded labour.

He advised NGOs to derive maximum benefit of district public safety and police complaint commissions by requesting them to discus bonded labour cases with police authorities.

Iqbal Detho of the Society for Protection of Rights of Child called for adopting a strategy which could activate vigilance committees at the district level.