Iqbal Masih’s story
Iqbal’s mother received a loan of 5000 rupees in Iqbal’s name from his employer, (about $NZ200) after Iqbal had been working in a carpet factory in Pakistan for two years. To repay the 1___Loan____ Iqbal had to work up to 2___Twelve________ hours a day, 3_________Six__ days a week on a carpet loam. He was malnourished and often 4_______Beaten______. After six years of hard labour the debt had increased to 5_______13000______ rupees (NZ$518). In 1992, when he was 10 years old, Iqbal attended a meeting of the Bonded Labour Liberation Front (BLLF). Where, 6______Inspired___ by what he heard, he gave an impassioned speech about his life. During the 7____________Meeting___ he learnt about his 8____Rights_______ and, with the help of a BLLF lawyer, 9____Drafted__________ a letter of 10__Freedom__________, which he gave to the owner. He never returned to the carpet factory. Instead, freedom inspired Iqbal to 11_______Campaign____ for the human rights of other children caught in the trap of 12________Bonded___ labour. For the next two years, he spoke out, campaigned and lobbied for an end to 13__Bondage________, estimated to affect more than half a 14_____Million___ children in Pakistan alone.
As Iqbal’s campaigning and profile increased, he started to receive more 15______Threats____ to his life. Such was his dedication and commitment, Iqbal 16__________Refused__ to stop his campaigning. In April 1995 while 17________Cycling_____ near his home town, he was shot dead.
The suspicious circumstances surrounding his death fits a pattern of collusion between 18____Powerful______ business families, 19_______Political______ groups and local police authorities, which has resulted in other threats and killings. Despite an initial 20 _______Investigation____, Iqbal’s murder remains unsolved.
