PESHAWAR: Zardad Khan alias Bulbul, a midget TV artist, has appealed to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take steps to ameliorate the plight of his community.

In an informal chat with Dawn, he said that special quota was not allocated to dwarfs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa like other disabled or special persons for employment at education and health departments. He added that they were treated as social outcasts and looked down upon in the society. He said that he wanted to form an organisation for the rights and welfare of his community.

“It is a pity that we are not considered as human beings. Although in the previous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, social and welfare department had announced some incentives and privileges for us on the pattern of disabled persons but to no avail,” Mr Khan said.

He said that the number of dwarfs was more than 50 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “The plight of female dwarfs is even worse because their families don’t allow them to perform even if they have penchant for acting on the stage,” he said.

The artist said that Dr Shahab Khattak, a member of his community, recently got a PhD degree from Kohat University. “The university administration awarded him a cash prize of Rs2500,000 for his brilliant academic achievement but the provincial government is still silent to honour him,” he added.

Mr Khan is planning to launch a TV serial to highlight the issues being faced by his community. “In addition to founding a welfare organisation, I also have planned out a complete serial on the plight of dwarfs to bring to light their problems and create awareness in the society about their rights. I am in search of a donor or a social welfare organisation to help me in executing my plan,” he added.

Renowned Pashto playwright Noorul Bashar Naveed has already agreed to write script for this wonderful project. “This is what an artist can do for his community. I am hopeful that my plan will succeed,” Mr Khan said.

About 16 dwarf artists, mostly male, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are affiliated with different private TV channels and other production houses while some of them are performing on silver screen and in stage shows, garnering popularity for their lively comic roles.

Mr Khan is a popular actor, who has been entertaining people for more than two decades. Launched his acting career from a PTV Peshawar centre short Pashto play, he has performed various memorable roles in about 350 Pashto and Urdu plays and tele-films.

“My younger brother, also a dwarf, who has recently completed his secondary education, is a burden on the family. Personally I don’t have any financial problem but I see that my other dwarf colleagues are suffering from monetary constraints and I want to raise voice to address their problems. They have no support from any quarter. Frankly speaking even artists treat us as subhuman which I believe is a practical irony,” the artist said.

Mr Khan has been to Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Afghanistan on several occasions and has exhibited his talent at live stage performance.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, commendation certificates and shields from many literary and cultural organisations both at home and abroad.

Sardar Khan Marikhai, another popular dwarf TV artist, said that local filmmakers, directors and producers exploited their physical statures to add humour to their productions but they never approached dwarfs to know what social and financial problems they faced.

“Whenever we go out for purchasing something in the market, people tease us and make fun of us. Also most of the dwarfs remain unmarried because people in general are reluctant to tie the knot with them. I am fortunate to have got wedded to a normal woman,” Mr Khan observed.

An official at social welfare department, wishing not to be named, said dwarfs falling into the category of disabled were also ranked as special persons. “Facilities and incentives in the departments concerned are being provided to dwarfs as well according to the prescribed rules and merit policy.

Mistreatment or ill-treatment is a social issue. Our department has several interventions to create awareness among masses regarding special persons including dwarfs,” the official said.