Tragic news emerged that Punjab police baton charged physically challenged people including blinds near press club in Lahore on Wednesday, leaving some of them injured. It was a gift by the Punjab police to them in connection with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Physically challenged people including blinds were staging a rally on Davis Road but as they attempted to march towards the Chief Minister Secretariat, police resorted to baton-charging them. Resultantly, several persons including blinds sustained injuries.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif took notice of police action against blinds and it is likely that he would form another investigative committee as always with very rare hope of unveiling the police brutality. It is not the first time Punjab police has done inhuman act, on June 17th over a dozen innocent people of Pakistan Awami Tehreek including two women were killed with utter brutality. Politicians have failed to provide the due rights to the special people, in spite of forming the new laws to give them the sense of care; they have been ignored decade by decade. May be it was in the mind of police that physically challenged people are the most ignored people in this society so none would take action if you even beat them, torture them, severely injured them. Here, ignorance of the politicians to provide the due rights to the special people for what they were protesting on road and rude behaviour which has been associated with the police, are the responsible for the infamous incident.
The Punjab government spokesman said that there are black sheep in every department, adding that action will be taken against those responsible for the incident. International Day of Persons with Disabilities is being observed across the world on December 3 every year, aiming to draw awareness to persons with disabilities and the problems they are faced with in their everyday lives. Earlier, in a message on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Punjab chief minister said earlier that all available resources are being utilized for rehabilitation of special persons. The chief minister said that the provincial government has taken several important measures for rehabilitation of special persons and kids and to make them a useful part of the society.
At the same time law makers must not forget to provide the due rights to the special people. Persons with disabilities are entitled to exercise their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights on an equal basis with others. Disability “summarizes a great number of different functional limitations occurring in any population in any country of the world. People may be disabled by physical, intellectual or sensory. The UN estimates that there are 500 million persons with disabilities in the world today. This number is increasing every year due to factors such as war and destruction, unhealthy living conditions, or the absence of knowledge about disability, its causes, prevention and treatment. impairment, medical conditions or mental illness. Such impairments, conditions or illnesses may be permanent or transitory in nature.” The risk of impairment is greater for a family that lives in poverty, while and at the same time, a disabled family member places higher demands on the family’s resources.
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) member Abrarul Haq said the violence inflicted on blind protesters was condemnable, adding that his party would come out on the roads in protest against the violence. If the proper investigation would not take place then the incumbent government would give another major issue to prolong their protests. Government already facing great pressure from PTI, therefore, such irresponsible behaviors by the law enforcing authorities must be investigated.