society for special persons dialogue on election 2013 with the support of spo

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Report

Dialogue on Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

‘Access of voters with Disabilities’ ‘Reserve Seats in Parliament’

Reported by Fahad Bilal (Program Manager)

Society for Special Persons, Multan.

Election 2013 Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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Activity Title Dialogue on Election 2013

Political Rights of Persons with Disabilities Date 10th April, 2013 Time: 12:00 PM- 03:00pm PST

Venue Taj Continental, Multan

Facilitated by Organized by Society for Special Persons, supported by Strengthening Participatory Organization (SPO).

Representatives from Political Parties & Election Commission o f Pakistan.

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 People’s 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).

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

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 (Vice-President-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.

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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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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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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the Government of Pakistan but still there is no implementing procedure or body formed. The problems

of the disabled persons are in numbers and that’s 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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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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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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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 People’s 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

other’s 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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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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Media Coverage


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http://www.nawaiwaqt.com.pk/E-Paper/multan/2013-04-11/page-8

By Daily Nawa e waqt, Multan


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society for special persons dialogue on election 2013 with the support of spo

Documents

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