Lack of support: Father seeks help in treatment of his children

Lance Naik Niaz Muhammad has three children, all of whom cannot hear.

PESHAWAR: He puts his life at risk every day. But more than that, he is worried for his three physically impaired children, whom he holds dear more than his life.

Lance Naik Niaz Muhammad came to Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday to appeal to the government and nonprofit orgnanisations to find or fund treatment for his three children who are differently abled. Muhammad, who has been serving the Frontier Corps for over nine years now, has two daughters, three and nine years old, and a son who is eight years old. All three children are deaf by birth.

“I was repeatedly warned of dire consequences if I continued with my job, However, I sacrificed my comfort and left my village to defend my country rather than giving in to the militants,” Muhammad said. However, now he is unable to support treatment for his children with his meagre income and decided to seek media’s help to highlight his plight.

“I have knocked on every door but doctors say I need around $60,000 to treat my children, $20,000 for each of them,” Muhammad told The Express Tribune, adding doctors at Lady Reading Hospital say they need to import certain equipment before they can treat his children.

“I appealed to the Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif who assured me he will help me out. I even submitted all the required documents at the FC headquarters, Balahissar. However, nothing has been done so far,” Muhammad said.

“I appeal again to General Raheel Sharif, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Mamnoon Hussain, Muslims and non-Muslims across the globe to please help me out,” Niaz appealed.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2016.