Dozens of disabled persons on Wednesday protested outside Karachi Press Club against the state injustices and manhandling of disabled person in Quetta two days ago.

"We do not want anyone's sympathy, we are only demanding our constitutional rights," said Aini Malik, a disabled person who possess a graduate degree in International Relations.

The disabled persons were protesting in wake of manhandling of disabled persons by police officials on Monday to clear the route for a government official during a protest demonstration in the Hockey Chowk area of Quetta.

While addressing the participants in the protest, Amjad Nadeem, who is victim of blast in Peshawar in November 2007 and holds a degree in electrical engineering, questioned the role of state in provision of social security to the marginalised communities in Pakistan including disabled persons.

"We demand the supreme court of Pakistan to take suo-moto notice against manhandling of disabled persons in Quetta and true implementation of disabled persons quota in government services," said Amjad Nadeem.

Amjad Nadeem also claimed that Khyber Pukhtunkhwa government did not give the promised compensation package to him.

"Two per cent quota has been allotted for the disabled person in proportion under the Population Census 1998 but due to terrorism and weak health policies, the number of disabled persons has reached to fifteen per cent from two per cent," Amjad added.

During the protest, participants raised slogans to highlight non-implementation of disabled persons quota in government services.

— All photos taken by the author.