LHC seeks reply on plea for jobs to visually-impaired persons

LAHORE: Justice Shujaat Ali Khan of Lahore High Court issued notice to the Punjab government by May 24 on a petition seeking jobs for the visually-impaired protesting on roads for their rights.

The petitioner Judicial Activism Panel, an NGO, filed the petition through its counsel senior lawyer advocate Azhar Siddique. It was contended in the petition that the special persons are considered very special in every walk of life and State treats them with special care but the situation is quite different in Pakistan, adding, the visually-impaired are moving from pillar-to-post for their basic rights.

He implored this is a grave matter of recruitment of the visually-impaired in various suitable federal and provincial institutions. He alleged the bureaucracy and executives are trying to create hurdles in the process of appointments of special persons despite the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 guarantees the rights of special persons.

He pointed out that the visually-impaired had assembled at Kalma Chowk and blocked the Metro Bus Track demanding regularisation of their services and quota in jobs. The protesters also chanted slogans against the provincial government. He pointed out that it is the part of record that the visually-impaired had been protesting for last three years but the government seemed adamant for not fulfilling their right demands.

He said the government is playing tactics with the innocent persons and did not confirm them as permanent employees and even failed to release their salaries in time. He said although the LHC has ordered to give the due rights of visually challenged persons as per law but it deemed that the orders of LHC have no bearing on the bureaucracy and executives.

The provincial government is investing billions in various projects like Metro Orange Line Train, Solar Power Projects, Coal Power Project in Punjab but doing nothing for the special persons and have even not made any separate rules for regulating the quota reserved for special persons in government service.

He implored that it is the responsibility of the government to take necessary steps for providing the best facilities to the special persons but it preferred roads and buildings networks. He prayed the court to accept their application, and the Punjab government, including chief executive and cabinet may kindly be directed to settle the issue/demands of the visually-impaired in order to enforce Article 9, 14, 18, 25 and 38 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973. And appropriate action also be taken against the persons responsible for their failure to enforce the fundamental rights of the visually-impaired.