SHANGLA: Differently-abled persons from different areas of Puran tehsil of Shangla district staged a demonstration outside the assistant commissioner’s office on Saturday demanding their basic rights.

The participants led by Mohammad Ali, Bakhtminzada and Mohammad Salam gathered at the place on wheelchairs.

They said that they had been ignored in compensation payments under Pakistan Baitul Mal and social welfare department.

The physically-challenged persons claimed that a food package was recently distributed by the administration and revenue officials in the district, but they were not considered for it.

Hussain Ali Heran, who has a spinal cord injury, said 1,850 people were picked for distribution of food package by the administration, but not a single physically challenged person included them. He said the food package was donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

He said despite their repeated requests and protests, the administration did not construct ramps and purpose-built washrooms for them in the government offices.

Bakhtminzada, resident of Chawga, said a portion of his house collapsed in recent rains, and he had submitted an application to the administration for compensation, but to no avail.

Assistant commissioner Shadman Khan and Puran tehsil council chairman Abdul Maula Khan assured the protesting people that their issues would be addressed on a priority basis.

They said their demands would also be forwarded to the deputy commissioner.

RESHUFFLED: District police officer Imran Khan reshuffled the heads of police stations on Saturday.

Fazal Elahi, SHO Aloch police station, was transferred and posted SHO Bisham city police station.

Bakht Zahir Khan, SHO Bisham, was transferred and posted to Alpuri police station. Bakht Zeb Khan, SHO Olandar police station, was transferred and posted to Aloch police station, while Said Mahmood, SHO Martung police station, was transferred and posted SHO Olandar police station.

SHO Martung Ajmal Khan was closed to the police lines. He was replaced by Sub-Inspector Dawar Khan.

Alpuri police station SHO Rohul Amin Khan has been transferred to Swat.

Published in Dawn, May 5th, 2024