LAHORE
Special children, like victims of Down syndrome, need our attention, care, love and special measures for their rehabilitation to make them part of the mainstream of society.
These views were expressed by speakers at a rally organised by the Pakistani Group for Down syndrome at the Liberty round-about on Saturday. A large number of students, people of different walks of life participated in the rally.
Ex-governor Punjab, Ch Sarwar, said that better treatment of special children was a symbol of a civilised society. He said that he saluted the teachers of such students who taught them with care, love and affection. He also appreciated the efforts of the organisers and volunteers of the rally.
Talking to the media, he said that he appreciated the constitution of a judicial commission to probe elections rigging. He said that it was the right of the people to know whether the elections were fair or not. To a question, he said that criminality and politics should be kept apart. Criminal elements should be treated as criminals without considering their affiliation, he said. About the Model Town Tragedy, he said that those responsible for the tragedy should be brought to justice.
Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, organiser of event said that she was grateful to all the participants in the rally. Pervaiz Malik, President PML (N), Lahore said that nations with conscience give priority to issues and challenges of special children. Chuadhry Ejaz, President PTI Punjab, said, “We should take special children like normal children. We should consider the students just like our children to boost the courage of their parents.” Former Education Minister Mian Imran Masood of the PML-Q said that children suffering from Down syndrome were slow learners and there was a need to introduce an education system that was inclusive for them.
MPA Sadia Sohail, a leader of PTI, said that they had set the logo for today’s rally as 21-UP. That meant that the
children would now be called as UP not Down. They are part of us and we need to accept them, she maintained.
Message: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a message on World Down Syndrome Day has said that children suffering from the syndrome deserve special attention of society. He said that a comprehensive system was essential for looking after and effective treatment of Down syndrome children and the government was providing all possible resources for their care. The chief minister said that special children were no less than normal children in talent and they could be made useful citizens of society.