HYDERABAD, Dec 15: Eighteen peasants, including women, who have escaped from the alleged captivity of a landlord in the Chotiariyoon area of Sanghar district, staged a protest demonstration outside the press club here on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Bair Chand, Rai Chand, Mohan and others said that they had been working on the agricultural lands of a landlord for the last three years but no accounts were maintained by the landlord and they were denied 50 per cent of their share of the crops.

They alleged that strict watch was maintained on their movement and they were not allowed to go anywhere.

They said, taking advantage of darkness, they escaped on Sunday night and took shelter at the Kotri hari camp. They apprehended that as the landlord was very influential, they might be kidnapped.

They appealed to the authorities to provide them protection and ensure that they were given their share in the agriculture produce.

Meanwhile, a woman has alleged that her husband has been kept in private jail of a brick kiln owner, Koko Khan Pathan, near Hyderabad and has demanded his recovery, reports PPI.

Holding a protest demonstration here on Monday, Zarina said that the brick kiln owner was demanding payment of Rs200,000 for release of her husband Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti and says that her husband had taken loan from him.

She said her family has worked for seven years during which the brick kiln owner has given them only subsistence allowance and they were not paid the wages. She demanded immediate recovery of her husband from the private jail of brick kiln owner Koko Khan Pathan and payment to them of their labour of seven years.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: In order to provide financial assistance to the affectees of earthquake of October 29, 2008, in Balochistan, the Relief Commissioner Sindh has asked all the District Coordination Officers, government departments/non-government organisations/agencies, philanthropists and individuals who intend to donate, to deposit their cash donations in the President relief fund for earthquake victims 2005 in head of account G-12130-President’s relief funds for earthquake victims 2005.

The funds will be credited at all branches of State Bank of Pakistan, district treasury, National Bank of Pakistan and scheduled banks, he added.

The cabinet division in pursuance of the directive of the prime minister has desired that all cash assistance or in shape of cheques/ drafts/pay orders for earthquake affectees of Balochistan be deposited in the President’s relief fund for earthquake victims 2005.