LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday observed that disabled people were an integral part of society and manhandling of visually impaired persons cannot be tolerated.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing a petition seeking judicial inquiry into manhandling of visually impaired persons by police and enforcement of Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Act in service of Pakistan.

Assistant Advocate General Anwaar Hussain told the court the chief minister had lifted the ban on appointments and issued directions to all departments to adhere to allocated quota for disabled persons in recruitments. He also submitted statistics of 16 departments of the Punjab government where the 2pc quota had been implemented.

The law officer also submitted a report on behalf of the inspector general saying a deputy superintendent of police and other police officials involved in manhandling of the visually impaired persons had been suspended and departmental action against them was underway.

Justice Shah directed the officer to submit a progress report on the action taken against the guilty officials.

A deputy attorney general, however, sought time from the court to furnish details about the implementation of disabled persons’ quota in appointments at federal government departments. The judge allowed the request and adjourned hearing till Jan 27, 2015.

The Judicial Activism Panel (JAP), a public interest law firm, filed the petition seeking action against the cops involved in baton charge on members of Pakistan Association of Blind.

JAP Chairman Advocate Azhar Siddique argued the federal and Punjab governments be directed to implement 2pc quota policy for disabled persons in all appointments. He asked the court to also summon 10-year record of the appointments made in federal and provincial departments to check whether the quota was implemented.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2014