ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday consented to include special persons in the recruitment examination for the posts of election officers.

In a reply submitted to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on a petition filed against ‘excluding’ special persons from the written test for the posts, the ECP said it did not include these persons in the exam since arrangements to facilitate them were not ready.

The ECP said now the arrangements have been completed for holding the test for special persons.

Earlier last week, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah while hearing the petition had observed that the court will not allow any discrimination against persons with disabilities, adding special persons were rendering services as judicial officers and why they had not been allowed to compete for the ECP jobs.

Justice Minallah had advised the ECP to avoid discrimination against persons with disabilities. He said being a constitutional body, ECP should ensure participation of special persons in the recruitment examinations. According to the IHC chief justice, if persons with disabilities would not be given a chance to compete for the jobs, it would be tantamount to breaching their fundamental rights.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2021