The widows of Asif Javed, who self-immolated in the Lahore High Court, have been granted justice as the court ordered a private company to pay Rs7.5 million to the victims. This amount is intended as compensation for 11 years of salary, totaling approximately Rs3.5 million.

Justice Khalid Ishaq oversaw the proceedings in this case. Asif Javed was dismissed by the private company in 2016, but the labor court later ruled that his dismissal was void and ordered his reinstatement.

The company contested the labor court’s ruling in the National Industrial Relations Commission, which upheld the labor court’s decision on November 23, 2020. Following this, the company filed a case in the High Court in December 2020.

Asif Javed’s case has been under review in the Lahore High Court since 2020.

Background

A former union leader, Asif Javed was who faced retaliation for his efforts in organizing labor struggles. In 2016, he was dismissed from his position at private company, a multinational company, without receiving due compensation.

In response, Mr. Javed filed a petition in the labor court, which ruled in his favor and ordered the company to pay his dues.

However, the employers appealed the decision to the National Industrial Relations Commission, which upheld the labor court’s ruling, directing the company to reinstate Mr. Javed and compensate him.

Undeterred, the company subsequently filed a writ petition in the Lahore High Court to avoid fulfilling their obligations.

The case lingered in the High Court for five years, with delays often attributed to procedural technicalities.

During one hearing, Mr. Javed left Justice Shujaat Ali Khan’s courtroom and tragically set himself on fire, succumbing to his injuries on March 1.