LAHORE:
Police in Lahore engaged in a scuffle with blind protesters on Tuesday, preventing their attempt to enter an on-going Punjab Assembly session to record a protest, according to sources quoting private media.
The protesters had been staging a sit-in since yesterday on the stairs of PA to remind the provincial government of its promise to ensure their quota in government jobs and regularisation of their service.
“We will not end our protest till the acceptance of our demands – regularisation of services and implementation of two per cent job quota,” Muhammad Adnan, one of the blind protesters had told a private media outlet.
The post-graduation student had further added: “Exactly three months back, the Punjab government had promised us to regularise the services of some 50 or so visually impaired persons in different departments, including the special education, when police manhandled us during the protest. And today again the Punjab government is giving us a false hope through another promise, which we are not ready to accept this time.”
Earlier this morning, Punjab Home Minister Shuja Khanzada had assured the protesters that he will convey their concerns to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
However, even after several hours had gone by, no progress in this regard could be seen.
Running out of patience, the protesters attempted to enter the Punjab Assembly but they encountered baton-charging police officials.
The blind protesters struck the policemen with their white canes when they resisted their entry.
A similar instance of violence between Lahore police and blind protesters took place in December last year. Blind protesters were badly beaten by baton-wielding police as they staged a rally to advocate for their rights in view of World Disability Day.
Very bad…We need to respect everyone and in particular the people with disabilities.
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