HYDERABAD, Jan 23: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, has ordered registration of a case against nine kiln owners accused of meting out inhuman treatment to bonded labourers, provided a cognisable offence is made out in a petition filed against the kiln owners.

The order was passed by Justice Sajjad Ali Shah on a criminal miscellaneous application filed by two kiln workers, Shahzad and Ashiq, both brothers. They have cited kiln owners Bahram Khan, Jafar Khan, Samad Khan, Nizamuddin, Akhtar Khan, Hamid Khan, Sultan Shah, Rozi Khan and Mir Afzal alias Koka Khan as accused.

The applicants stated that the respondents ‘sell and purchase workers’ under the supervision of armed men and that if any of them refused to work, they were either killed, confined or sent with their family members to the tribal areas where they were sold.

Narrating their ordeal, the petitioners said that four years ago, they with their families were brought from their village by Samad Khan to work at his kiln. Samad Khan promised to them provision of facilities including food, medicines and accommodation to them. However, they said, he sold them to Rozi Khan for Rs20,000 and later Rozi Khan sold them to Sultan Shah for Rs50,000. Again they were sold to Hamid Khan for Rs70,000 and finally Bahram Khan purchased them for Rs100,000.

They stated that for four years, they worked under the shadow of armed guards, who banned their movement. They alleged that their wives were subjected to criminal assault.

They said that not a single penny was paid to them and they were provided little food, adding that one year ago, they refused to work due to non-payment of wages and torture and maltreatment.

According to the applicants, Bahram Khan discussed their issue with other respondents who arrived at the kiln and forcibly took them to the Hala Naka where Malik Imran and Hayat Machhi were present.

The two workers were then taken to Lahore by Bahram Khan and sold to one Malik Abbas for a huge sum, they said.

Later, they came to know that they were brought here for removal of their kidneys as Abbas dealt in organ trade. After finding that their lives were in danger, they attempted to escape but couldn't succeed.

Subsequently, kidneys of Shahzad and his brother Ashiq were removed in a hospital with the threat not to raise hue and cry otherwise their family members would be killed.

Since removal of kidneys, the applicants said, they were unable to work at a kiln but were still forced to do so. However, they finally managed to escape, reached here and approached police to seek justice but to no avail, the kiln workers said.

They requested the court to direct the DPO of Hyderabad to ensure registration of cases against the accused and to provide them protection.