January 10, 2006	Tuesday	Zilhaj 9, 1426

KARACHI, Jan 9: Eleven girls working as maids in the posh areas have taken refuge at the Edhi Home during the last 10 days with complaints of abuse and torture by their employers.

These girls, who either ran away from the bungalows or were sent to the Edhi Home through police, bore torture marks and complained of sexual abuse by members of the family where they used to work as domestic help, said Bilquis Edhi.

She said the trade of domestic help, mainly young girls from the interior of Sindh and Punjab, was thriving.

These underage girls were employed mostly in the posh localities of the city, Bilquis claimed in a statement.

Once hired, families exploited these girls to untold extremes and at the same time subjected them to abuse.

Getting fed up with such treatment, they often ran away and took refuge at the Edhi Home, she said.

Bilquis Edhi said the Edhi staff often received threats by such influential families for the return of these poor girls.

She expressed disappointment over the fact that none of the NGOs fighting for human rights had voiced their concern over this serious abuse of human rights.

Bilquis Edhi pointed out that as per the United Nations charter and Pakistan laws there was no room for slave trade.

Moreover, according to the Child Labour Laws, employing any person below 18 years of age was illegal.