Protecting rights: ‘Manhandling of the disabled intolerable’

Assistant AG Anwar Hussain told the court that the chief minister had lifted the ban on appointments.

LAHORE:

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah of Lahore High Court on Wednesday said disabled people were an integral part of the society and manhandling of visually-impaired persons would not be tolerated.

He was hearing a petition seeking a judicial inquiry into manhandling of visually-impaired persons by police and enforcement of Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Act.

Assistant Advocate General Anwar Hussain told the court that the chief minister had lifted the ban on appointments and issued directions to all departments to implement quota for disabled persons in recruitments. He also submitted statistics of 16 departments of the Punjab government showing implementation of the two per cent quota.

He said he would submit statistics of remaining departments on the next hearing.

Hussain also submitted a report on behalf of the inspector general of police, saying a DSP and several other police officials involved in manhandling of the disabled protesters had been suspended from service and departmental action was being taken against them.

A deputy attorney general sought time from the court to furnish details about implementation of disabled persons’ quota in appointments at federal government departments.

The judge allowed the request and adjourned hearing till January 27. He also sought a progress report about action taken against officials involved in manhandling disabled people.

Judicial Activism Panel (JAP) filed the petition, saying the baton-charge on members of Pakistan Association of Blind was a punishable offence.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2014.