It has been stated quite often that it is the state’s responsibility to provide fundamental rights to every individual, including ‘roti’, ‘kapra’ and ‘makaan’ (food, cloth and shelter), however, the state is struggling in fulfilling its promises.
The government’s indifferent attitude towards the middle-lower class is exemplified by the fact it has not introduced any solid laws to protect the rights of people with disabilities.
Pakistan has a significant population of disabled people who fight for their rights while facing discrimination, abuse and poverty.
Nisar Muhammad, 65, is one such disabled person, who has been struggling to get help from the government aid through its charity organisation, Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal (PBM)
While talking to Pakistan Today, he said he lost his right hand nine years ago, when it was crushed while he was operating a bulldozer.
Nisar said: “After the fateful incident, I was forced to leave work. I appealed to the government authorities to grant financial assistance as I am the primary provider for my family. I also have to arrange enough money to get my daughters married.”
He has been waiting for government assistance for many years now, but PBM has failed to help him because of its poor management and discriminatory attitude.
Nisar, who has three daughters, is now confronted by a number of challenges that he has been fighting against.
He has been working as a porter in the H/9 weekly bazaar for the last six months. He says that despite repeatedly visiting the PBM office, the organisation seems to have turned a deaf ear to his pleas. “I prefer to work rather than beg to feed my family. Before my accident I earned more than one thousand daily, but now I only make three or four hundred rupees during the three days the weekly bazaar is open,” he said.
Expressing his disappointment, Nisar said he had not asked the government for help when he was healthy. “I really need financial assistance now, but have been ignored because I do not have references through which I can approach the PBM.”
Nisar sets an example for others as he works despite his disability. Many shoppers at the weekly bazaar hire him as an expression of sympathy.
“This old man shows that no one should bow before the troubles of life but continue to struggle against them,” said Junaid Kamal, a shopper at the bazaar.
At a time when inflation has skyrocketed and unemployment is increasing, the situation for handicapped people has become more difficult. The government and a number of NGOs in the private sector claim that they are working for the disabled, but looking at Nisar the claims seem ring false.
People with disabilities are entitled to equal access to education, employment, equal rights to parenthood, property ownership, political rights and legal representation. Presently, there is no internationally binding convention specifically devoted to the rights of people with disabilities. A treaty on the rights and dignity of people with disabilities would create legally binding human rights obligations specific to the needs and situation of people with disabilities.
A human rights perspective towards disability requires society, and especially governments, to actively promote the conditions for all individuals to fully realise their rights. “Reasonable accommodation” (the necessary modifications without a disproportionate burden) must be made to ensure persons with disabilities the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
However, many believe that there is a great need a country like Pakistan to introduce some laws for the protection of disabled and strict action must be taken against those who ignore their rights. If the government does so, it will be helpful for them to get their rights easily, for instance if government authorities directed the officials of the state-run charity organisations to facilitate the disabled, Nisar could get the help he deserves.
