LAHORE: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has expressed its distress at the death of Asif Javed, a worker formerly employed by a multinational, who recently self-immolated outside the Lahore High Court.

The former employee reportedly set himself ablaze in protest

against the alleged manipulation of a court case pertaining to the reinstatement of workers, including himself, who had been sacked in 2015.

“We share the grief of his family and friends” says a press release issued by HRCP on Sunday.

HRCP has already noted that numerous labour disputes remain unresolved for years due to procedural delays and, in many cases, corporate influence.

“We demand a high-level inquiry into Mr Javed’s death as well as the alleged corporate manipulation of his court case. Moreover, the state must ensure that labour laws are strictly enforced at all national and multinational workplaces with significant penalties for companies that exploit legal loopholes to delay justice,” the press release adds.

Published in Dawn, March 3rd, 2025