Govt not serious about issues of differently-abled: SC

ISLAMABAD: The chief secretaries of all the four provinces of the country came under some chafing criticism from the top court on Monday after they failed to submit complete reports on people with disabilities in their respective provinces.

“The government does not appear serious in the case of differently-abled people,” noted a two-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC), led by Justice Azmat Saeed, as it heard a case regarding rights of differently-abled people.

The court took up the case on Monday, coinciding with International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and asked for the reports it had directed the chief secretaries of all four provinces to furnish.

But when none of them could furnish a complete report, it left the judges fuming.

Justice Saeed observed that since they had not received reports from any of the respondents, they were considering initiating contempt of court proceedings against the senior bureaucrats.

“What objection does the government have if the differently-abled get their right?” he asked, adding that they were issuing contempt notices and it was not necessary that the senior government officials return home the same day.

Additional Attorney General Sajid Ilyas Bhatti told the court that all organisations have prepared their reports and they can be presented in the court within an hour.

But Justice Saeed rejected the offer, noting that the senior officers will not get off so easy, adding that if they wanted time to submit the reports then the time will cost them a penalty.

“They will be fined in the contempt of court case. If a penalty of even a single rupee is imposed in the subsequent contempt proceedings, these officers could lose their jobs,” Justice Saeed warned.

The petitioner told the court that if this was the attitude of senior government officers towards the top court of the country, imagine how they treat the differently-abled people.

He went on to contend that in the entire year, they are welcomed on only one day — the international day for the differently-abled when the government holds a few programmes.

But as soon as the day passes, they are not even let through the door.

The petitioner added that they do not wish to take to the streets in protest, suggesting that they were being pushed towards that option.

Justice Saeed assured the petitioner that they need not go anywhere else for justice save the courtroom.

“You will get your rights as per the law,” Justice Saeed assured, adding that any leniency adopted towards government officers ended on Monday.

The court then directed the four chief secretaries to submit their reports before the week ends.

The court further directed that the petitioner’s counsel Rashid Rizvi be provided with copies of the reports already submitted.

Source: The Express Tribune