Report

Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities Access of voters with Disabilities

Reserve Seats in Parliament

Dialogue on Election 2013

Reported by Fahad Bilal (Program Manager) Society for Special Persons, Multan.

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Activity Title Date Venue Facilitated by Representatives from Political Parties & Election Commission o f Pakistan.

Dialogue on Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities 10th April, 2013 Time: 12:00 PM- 03:00pm PST Taj Continental, Multan Organized by Society for Special Persons, supported by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO). Ishfaq sarver (Regional officer Election Commission Pakistan, Zahid Iqbal(District officer Election Commission Pakistan), Ali Qasim, son of Ex. Prime Minister Syed Youaf Raza Gillani (Pakistan Peoples Party-PPP), Nafees Ahmad Ansari (Pakistan People Party), Mohsin Shaheen (Jamat e Islami), Shahid Mehmood Khan (Pakistan Tahreek Insaf), Saleem Ansari (Mustakbil Pakistan), Muhammad Saleem Raja (PPP), Ameer Ali Qureshi (Pakistan Muslim League-N), Muhammad Hussain Babar (Nizame Mustafa Party). Shahnawaz Khan (Program Specialist SPO), Mrs Sadiqa Karamat Ali (Board member Society for Special Persons ), Zahida Hameed (SPO), Lion Muhhammad Afzl Sipra (SOCIETY FOR SPECIAL PERSONS BODs Member), Syed Ajaz Ahmad Shah (Chairman BODs),South Asia Pakistan (SAP-PK), MOJAZ Foundation, Bedari, Women Rights Association, Paidar Development organization, Multan Civil Society Network, Khalid Qureshi (President Traders Multan, Aghe Pakistan,, Peace &Development Foundation, Imran Komal(Daily Express), Sadia Tabasum (Ravi News), Mehwish (APP News), Rokia Neem (Daily Khabrain), Sabir (Pakistan Television), Multan Deaf Association,, Nadir Khan (VicePresident-Society for Special Persons), Asif Iqbal(GS-Society for Special Persons), Rana Arif, Fahad Bilal, Yasir Hameed, people with Disabilities member of Society for Special Persons.

Representatives from NGOs, INGOs, Stakeholders, Media, Disabled People organization (DPOs), and Persons with Disabilities.

Background:
ACCESS TO POLITICAL RIGHTS is one of the basic human rights and every state is bound to

provide execution of political rights to her citizens. SOCIETY FOR SPECIAL PERSONS is working with all political parties at District, Provincial & National level for the improvement of political conditions exclusively for Persons with Disabilities. As discrimination level is much high & unfortunately ignored by concern authorities, like no participation of PWDs in our parliament, low turnout of (PWD) voters in election process and so on. To improve current situation

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

SOCIETY FOR SPECIAL PERSONS organized Dialogue on Election 2013, Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities with the support of Strengthening Participatory Organization on 10th April, 2013 at Taj Continental, Multan, where representatives from Election Commission of Pakistan and Political Leaders from the all political parties were invited to discuss the issues regarding the unfelt and ignored International Standards in Election Observation and Political Rights of persons with Disabilities being the half of the total Population including their families as they are directly attached with the person with disability. It is worth mentioning here that the persons with disabilities from the Punjab Province were present in a large number including NGOs and INGOs representatives across the country. The proceedings of the conference were initiated in the formal and participatory manner, after Recitation from the Holy Quran. Rationale There are 1000 million persons with disabilities worldwide (15% with additional 25%) Major accomplishments on disability focus on health or social welfare concerns of persons with disabilities and little the mainstreaming in legislation and political rights

Proceedings of Conference
Ceremony was started with the recitation of Holy Quran by Hafiz Naveed Iqbal and after recitation Aysha Iqbal said Naat. Nadir Khan (vice president society for special persons) welcomed all the participants.

Then Mr. Nadir Khan (vice president society for special persons) requested Mr. Fahad Bilal to present his presentation on Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Election 2013. Fahad Bilal (Programme Manager- Society for Special Persons) delivered a multimedia

presentation to the audience in which he described the objective of the Dialogue. A research study and its findings were included in that presentation.

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

First part of his presentation was on introduction of the organization Society for Special Persons than he highlighted the core objective of the dialogue and in last part he presented a research work study and its finding related to Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It was an online research conducted by Special Talent Exchange Programme (STEP) Islamabad a Disabled People organization and key partner of Society for special persons. All other DPOs were the stakeholder in this research work. Facts and feature were displayed on graphs and on charts in very interesting way and were clear to understand. The main focus the research was how to ensure the voting rights of Persons with Disabilities voters. The research was conducted with one thousand sample size with gender balance (500 Male and 500 Female). It was conducted in all over Pakistan. He concludes his presentation. All the participants of the dialogue really appreciated the research work and agreed that the suggestions should be followed in Electoral Process.

Zahida Hameed (SPO) shared the problem of the disabled persons, being a person with disability She provoked the political leaders to formulate the policy to facilitate persons with disabilities and political parties must ensure the UNCRPD Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities as it is signed by

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

the Government of Pakistan but still there is no implementing procedure or body formed. The problems of the disabled persons are in numbers and thats why we (disable persons) have invited the Stakeholders to aware them of our ignored rightful place in the society with our counterparts; we must have inclusive society where all are treated as equal respectable and productive part of the society without any discrimination. She advocated the political leaders on the political rights of Persons with Disabilities, she said that People with Disabilities stand as 15% of the population and their political rights are being ignored; they can hardly exercise their voting right. Core issue of her speech was, Parliament is incomplete without representation of People with Disabilities. There should be some reserved seats for PWDs as are for women and minorities, Mr Ishfaq Sarver (Regional officer Multan, Election Commission of Pakistan) during his address said Election Commission of Pakistan has formulated rules and regulations to facilitate Persons with Disabilities voters. We have issued instructions to election staff including polling officers and presiding officer about vote casting process of a Person with Disability voters. For instance, if a Person with disability comes at polling station to cast his/her vote he/she would not be waited in queue rather their vote would be casted on urgent basis by facilitating him at maximum level. More he said that he strongly agree with the recommendation of this dialogue, appreciated Society for Special Persons work, and committed to forward recommendation to chief Election commissioner Pakistan to facilitate persons with disabilities in electoral process. Mr Nafees Ahmad Ansari, Candidate for National Assembly from PPPP thanked SOCIETY FOR SPECIAL PERSONS for inviting him in such dialogue. He openly accepted the fact that he was unaware of the issues before coming here. But now he realized how crucial this 15% part of the population is and he will talk to authorities at top in his party for the inclusion of people with Disabilities in mainstream political system. He assured to be his level best for the inclusion of PWDs in upcoming elections 2013 in order to exercise their voting rights and suggested that there should be a specific room on polling station, where all possible facilities should be provided to PWDs. It will not only increase our voting turnout but also will play vital role to select good leadership. He also advocate the voice of representation of Persons with Disabilities in parliament on behalf of his party, He committed that he will take every possible step in favor of Persons with Disabilities political rights. If his party get elected.

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Candidate for Provincial Assembled in coming election 2013 Mr Abdul Mohsin Shaheen (Jamat Islami Pakistan) expressed his wonder after watching the presentation given by Fahad bilal on inaccessible infrastructure for persons with disabilities voters. He assured that Persons with Disabilities will be included in Manifesto of his party and they shall develop clear policies for this deprived community. Mr. Shahid Mehmood Khan Candidate for Member Provincial Assembly in coming election 2013 (PTI) former MPA also expressed his feelings in favor of PWDs. According to him it is one basic right in developed countries that PWDs not only exercise their voting right but also contest in electoral process so we should also follow them for the bright future of country. Further he said his party already has announced a policy for Persons with Disabilities and Pakistan Tahreek e Insaf shall imply this policy after winning the Election 2013. Mr Saleem Bokhari (PTI) also expressed his views I am feeling a strange sense of pleasure within me as I am watching this dialogue organizing team they all Persons with disabilities and I am astonished to that they are working more actively as compared to a common man, and I can say that they are not disabled they should be given opportunities on equal bases in all aspects of life rather on ecumenical, educational, social or political. Mr Saleem Ahmad Ansari Candidate for MNA in coming election 2013 (Mustakbil Pakistan) assured his full support to protect the political rights of Persons with Disabilities. He said that there is a need to create awareness of issues in Society. He pointed out that opportunities of education, health, employments are less available for PWDs that is why they are really struggling; if they are facilitated I do believe they can excel in their respected fields, so accessibility should be ensued at every level for them. Mr. Muhammad Saleem Raja from (Secretary General from PPPP) congratulated the organizers of the Dialogue and appreciated them for raising their voice. He said that disability is prevailing as serious issue in our society. They shall protect and ensure political rights of PWDs of Pakistan. Mr. Muhammad Hussain Babar (Nezam-e-Mustafa) Disability lies in our minds not in our body. Disability can never damage the potential of a person but rather it enhances it. If proper facilitation provided to PWD to be a civilized nation we shall have to ensure accessibility at every aspect of life for the PWDs. Our parliamentarians should play their role to ensure the political rights of PWDs.

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Ali Qasim Gillani (son of ex Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani) I feel prestige and pleasure to be here to raise the voice of PWDs on political rights. I had seen such practices on my foreign tour but I am very glad that PWDs of my country are also well aware and they are fighting for their rights. I have notated major demands in this Dialogue is to assure the political rights of PWDs whether voting right or reserve seats in parliament house. I strongly emphasis on both issues and shall raise my voice in their favor. I feel myself more sensitized on disability issues after attending this dialogue He also assured his full support and commitment to defend the political rights of PWDs. While talking about last five years performance of his party he specially highlighted the financial support provided by his father ex prime minster of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani to persons with Disabilities

in collaboration with Society for Special Persons Multan, He said that They have included persons with disabilities in Benazeer income support program and Persons with Disabilities are getting monthly stipend through this program during his party tenor a major achievement was the ratification of

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

UNCRPD sighed by president of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari and they shell formulate action plan for the application of UNCRPD. Specific computerized National Identity card with a disability sign were issued in their government tenor and we are planning to give maximum benefit and relief to Persons with Disabilities who are register with disability specific ID card. He also assured that Pakistan Peoples Party will include Persons with Disabilities in his Manifesto. Mr. Shah Nawaz Khan Programe specialist SPO Multan, shared potential ideas in his speech, there should be some reserve seats for PWDS candidates in National assembly, senate and all provincial assemblies with proportion to their Population. He ended his Speech beautiful verses of a Poet Kuch Musarrat to gharibon main bhi taqseem karo Apnay dastoor-e- masawat main tarmeem Karo Hum ne is dor-e-Jahalat main Azanain de hain Ham sadaqat ke Negheban hain Tasleem Karo

Mr Syed Ajaz Ahmad Shah (Chairmen board of Director) Society for Special Persons thanked all the guest politicians, media, NGOs, government officials, he specially appreciated the participants of the dialogue for maintain the decorum of the dialogue as it is quite difficult that to opponents sitting in front of each others and tolerating so it was a very good sign of healthy competition further he said I am extremely happy to announced that the all political partied and election commission of Pakistan are united on a signal agenda that People with Disabilities should be given their political rights by facilitating them and by reserving their seats in parliament.

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Outcome
1. Regional and District officers (Election Commission of Pakistan) Multan strongly agree with the recommendation of this dialogue, appreciated Society for Special Persons work, and committed to forward recommendation to chief Election commissioner Pakistan to facilitate persons with disabilities Voters in electoral process. 2. Representatives of Political Parties also committed the same thing for the political rights of Persons with Disabilities. They Promised that They shell raise their voice of Persons with Disabilities for their representation in Parliament house and make every possible effort for inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in assembly 3. Representatives of Civil Society assured their support for the political rights of Persons with Disabilities to execute and protected these rights. They also committed with Society for Special Persons on polling day they shall arrange wheelchair for disabled voters to facilitate them 4. More than 100 people (Male/Female) were sensitized and award about the Political rights of Persons with Disabilities as the result of this dialogue organized by Society for Special Persons with the support of SPO.

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities Media Coverage

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E-Paper/multan/2013-04-11/page-8 By Daily Nawa e waqt, Multan

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Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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