LAHORE, July 31: It is not a startling discovery to see kiln workers leading a life leased to them by kiln owners. For years, kiln workers are forced to work as bonded labour to pay off never-ending debts running from one generation to the next. Life becomes a daily subsistence struggle till they realize, as Idrees Masih did, that survival is no substitute for honour.
Like many kiln workers, Idrees Masih's life also began at a kiln owned by Rana Arshad Ali in Phoolnagar, Kasur. And like many others it would have ended there had his 13-year-old daughter not been allegedly gangraped by Rana Amjad, the younger brother of Rana Arshad Ali, and two others. Left with the painful choice of either continuing to barely survive for the rest of his bonded life or break free, the father of eight decided to opt to seek justice for his daughter.
Braving the possibility of going without food and shelter and risking life threats, Idrees Masih took the dangerous step of challenging the authority of the influential Ranas. He wanted an FIR to be registered against Rana Amjad and his two accomplices. It had seldom happened before: an inconsequential kiln worker daring to demand justice. And Rana Arshad, the perpetrator's elder brother and a man commanding authority in Phoolnagar, was not going to give into the demands of an inconsequential labourer. Honour being the sole prerogative of the kiln owners, rape was not an issue with most of them.
Life threats ensued to Idrees and his family to let the matter rest. But he could not wipe out the dark horrors of that ill-fated night when his 13-year-old daughter became the target of lust driven by power.
After the incident Idrees' family was harassed and locked up by the Ranas to intimidate the father of the alleged rape victim from going to police. Somehow Idrees, along with his family, managed to run away from Phoolnagar and was put in touch with the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NSJP), a Lahore-based non-profit organization, providing legal aid to the Christians.
"I don't think we would have survived if the NSJP had not helped us," said Idrees Masih. After helping them to register an FIR against Rana Arshad Ali, a resident of Ghumanke, Kasur, the NSJP also provided protection to Idrees Masih's family till the threat from the powerful Ranas subsided.
Talking to him about his daughter's rape was difficult. He would choke on words while describing the incident and break mid-sentence to wipe the tears streaming down his face. "Instead of sympathizing with me Arshad defended his younger brother and accused me of owing him Rs90,000. I only owe him Rs33,000," he claimed.
Originally a resident of Chak 190/9-AL, Sahiwal, Idrees Masih and his family had moved to Phoolnagar to work at the kiln. The powerful kiln owner had paid Rs33,000 to another kiln owner in Pattoki for releasing Idrees' family to get it to work for him. After working for nearly two months for 17 to 18 hours a day and barely making enough, half of which went into paying the interest incurred on Rs33,000, Idrees asked Rana Arshad to build him a thatch which would at least provide nominal shelter to his family. "For two months we had been living in an open field close to the brick kiln. All I wanted was a one room shelter for my family. The rest of the workers did not have the courage to ask the Ranas, but it was different for me. I had seen good times in the past because my father owned a small piece of land in Sahiwal. Forced by debt and a huge family to support I had to take up this work," said Idrees Masih.
But there was another problem. Idrees had committed the fatal mistake of threatening to quit and work for another kiln owner if Rana Arshad did not provide his family with shelter. On the face of it, his demand was fair and not so unreasonable. For Rana Arshad it was tantamount to rebellion. If he gave in to him, others would start making similar demands. With the assurance of thinking about it, Rana Arshad asked him to continue work. His younger brother, Rana Amjad was not so patient. He had other plans. "I am sure Arshad had no idea what his younger brother wanted to do," conceded the Idrees Masih.
Relating the incident, which till now has his young daughter under shock, Idrees bowed his head and stared for some time at the floor of the place where he and his family were in hiding. "It was a stormy night between July 11 and 12. All the other workers had gone to another place to sleep, but I decided to stay there. Three men came to where I was sleeping with my wife and children and started circling around us. One of them was saying that a lot of money has been spent on us and they would not allow us to work somewhere else. I recognized the voice of Rana Amjad, but out of fear did not move," narrated Idrees Masih.
According to his version, the three men came back around 1:45am. This time they were armed. They dragged Idrees and his wife Shahnaz to one side, blindfolded and tied them up. "They said they'll teach me a lesson which I'll never forget and I won't be able to make any more demands," related the bereaved father.
Getting hold of their daughter, barely 13 years old, the three men allegedly raped her, all the time using foul language to add to Idrees' humiliation. "They said that they'll kill my family if I told anyone about it," said the rape victim. The fragile looking girl kept on clutching her hands tightly as she spoke, her eyes stared blankly at an unknown spot on a wall.With the help of the NCJP, habeas corpus writ was filed by Idrees Masih. The court appointed a bailiff that recovered the victims. They were produced in the court which ordered that they should be "set at liberty", instructing the police to investigate into the allegations of rape. Since the girl's alleged rape took place nearly 10 days before the petition was filed, it will be difficult to establish its veracity. Even if the veracity were established, it would be difficult for the Kasur police to arrest influential accused. When it comes to power versus poverty, it is not difficult to assume which one would prevail.