BARA: The disabled persons in tribal districts are hugely disappointed with all the political parties and independent candidates contesting the provincial polls.
The disabled persons say their rights and problems are not included in the programme of any political party contesting provincial elections in tribal districts. Abdullah Shah, president of Fata Disabled Persons Association, said while talking to TNN that no political party or independent candidate bothered to include their problems in their election programme. He said candidates from various backgrounds initiated electioneering soon after the end of the holy month of Ramazan, but not a single candidate has come to the disabled persons to inquire about their problems.
Abdullah Shah lamented that all the candidates have focused their attention on winning the elections by any means and they are least bothered about the difficulties faced by handicapped persons. He said the office of Fata Disabled Persons Association is situated near the press club building in Bara and politicians regularly visit the press club to gain media coverage, but they could not spare even little time to inquire about the handicapped people.
Abdullah Shah said about 7,000 disabled persons are registered in PK-106 and PK-107 constituencies and most of them are jobless.
“Election candidates are not coming to us before elections and there is no chance that they will resolve our problems after elections,” he said.
Disabled persons often raise voice for their rights and make demands for basic rights like free of cost education, healthcare and jobs, but their demands are often not met. There is a sizable number of disabled persons in tribal districts and they can also impact the outcome of election results in any constituency, but election candidates seem to be too busy to look at that factor.
Recently, president of the association for welfare of disabled people in Bajaur, Bakhtawar Jan told TNN that 4,385 disabled persons are registered with him in the tribal district, while the number of unregistered special persons has crossed 6,000. Bakhtawar Jan lamented that hundreds of disabled children, women, and elderly persons are deprived of the very basic facility of wheelchair. He said education, healthcare, jobs and other facilities for the disabled persons are also negligible.
