QUETTA: The 36-day-long strike by disabled people was called off on Tuesday after assurance by Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri that immediate steps would be taken for the acceptance of their demands.

Mr Zehri gave the assurance to the representatives of Voice for Disabled Persons during a meeting at the Chief Minister House. He said the provincial government was committed to implementing quota for the disabled persons in all government departments, adding that it was a responsibility of the government to provide jobs to them.

He said he was determined to make the disabled persons useful citizens for which every effort would be made. They were not a burden on society or individuals as they possessed qualities to become useful citizens, he added. The Voice for Disabled Persons had set up a protest camp outside the Quetta Press Club in support of their demands and against the injustices committed by government departments concerned with the handicapped people regarding the job quota.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2017