Disabled men sit in their wheelchairs as they stage a protest demanding their rights, outside the provincial chief minister’s house in Quetta. PHOTO: AFP
People with disabilities observed black day here on the International Day for the Persons with Disabilities to protest against government’s lack of attention in implementing job quotas and other economic opportunities for them.
Around two dozen people with disabilities, along with several children took out a protest procession and staged a sit-in on Zarghoon Road main intersection leading to Chief Minister Secretariat and Governor House. Police restrained them from proceeding to the secretariat.
“On disabled quota, I was inducted into Balochistan Constabulary (BC) in 2010. But I was terminated from service along with 18 others after two years by the inspector general. It was argued that there was no quota for people with disabilities,” said Abdul Samad, 28.
The protestors carried black flags and wore black armbands. They blocked the thoroughfare for more than two hours. Police asked them to leave the place but the protestors refused. Police picked them up, and carried them to the police station where they were released.
“I do not know about my rights but I was told that government does help persons with disabilities. That is why I came here,” said Sahien Dad who was in a wheelchair. He said he had polio in his childhood.
Another person in wheelchair carried a placard inscribed with the slogan “Anti-polio drive: a business campaign.”
Qaiser Abbas, 21, the youngest protestor, was cynical. “I know the government will do nothing for us but I still came here to support these people,” he told The Express Tribune. Abbas wanted to keep up studies but his family could not afford to send him to school.
Jahangir Kakar, who led the protest, said there were quotas for the disabled at state-run institutions as well as private concerns but they are not being implemented.
“Balochistan Constabulary had inducted 18 people with disabilities in 2010 but they were fired after two years. They were told that there was no quota for them. Since then they are on strike,” he added.
No government official was available to comment. The Express Tribune made several phone calls to reach BC officials but pulled a blank every time.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 4th, 2013.
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