Young politician from Lower Dir continues to defy odds

Proves disability means little when a person is willing to change their circumstances

PESHAWAR: Scaling new heights had once seemed next to impossible for Saira Shamsul Qamar. She was born with a muscular weakness in her feet and suffered from low vision. However, the 25-year-old managed to defy all odds. She stepped out of her rustic life in Jandol, Lower Dir and entered politics.

Qamar has received several awards as one of the youngest political leaders.

She has been elected as a member of the district assembly and is also an esteemed poet and motivational speaker. She has also received an award for her poetry.



Beyond the doldrums

The 25-year-old’s journey was, by no means, an easy one. As a child, she faced tremendous emotional strain due to her condition. As she grew older, Qamar learnt not to allow her condition to influence her prospects in life.

“I went through several surgical operations [over the years] that helped me walk a little and see better than before,” she tells The Express Tribune.

She completed her masters in sociology from Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan. This was a huge achievement as she hailed from a region where women are seldom allowed to leave the confines of their homes.

A poet at heart, Qamar released her first collection of Urdu and Pashto poetry, ‘Yaduna Armanuna’, in January 2012. Its second edition was published in December 2014.

Through her poetry and motivational speaking sessions, she has shown how physical impairment should not hold people back from achieving success.

Political journey

At the age of 21, Qamar decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and take part in politics. She joined Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf. Still young, Qamar served as joint secretary of Malakand Division for five years and then became information secretary in Lower Dir in 2014.



She has recently become the provincial vice president of PTI’s Malakand Division. She was the first woman member of PTI from Lower Dir.

Force to reckon with

Qamar has become a force to be reckoned with. She was appointed a member of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Peace and Solidarity Council Pakistan in 2012. The 25-year-old has also been an active part of many projects and committees on women’s rights and people with disabilities. Her various laurels include the Poet of the Year Award 2012 and the Gender and Equality Pakistan Award for her active involvement in politics in Lower Dir. Recently, she also received the Hunar-e-Hawwa Award 2016.

“I don’t see myself as disabled,” she says. “I see myself as an inspiration for people with disabilities.” Qamar adds, “Disabled people already do not have it easy in this region. Their families try to hide them away because of the social stigma attached to their disposition. With my actions, I want to show all these people that one can grow and achieve their goals if they truly believe in themselves. I want to be the embodiment of courage for them.”

She insists on the need to make policies to provide better education, employment and health facilities to people with disabilities. Qamar also believes the government needs to provide allotted seats in assemblies to people with disabilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2016.