December 3, 2021
By Asra Haque & Hamid Riaz
LAHORE
A peaceful march organized by differently-abled students of the Punjab University’s Quaid-e-Azam campus to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities was disrupted when a brawl broke out between the Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba and Punjab Council.
Differently-abled students were forced to abandon their plans for a rally and instead displayed posters inscribed with their demands from the university administration. Demonstrators lamented the lack of provisions and facilities for differently-abled students, and the University’s apathy toward their repeated pleas for support.
Students provide that the campus is inaccessible for students in wheelchairs – there are no ramps that allow them to access buildings, barricades have been placed at different points barring entry to wheelchairs. Furthermore, there are no special bathrooms.
Awais, who is studying law at PU, needs a wheelchair for better mobility. But, the campus’ infrastructure has made it unnecessarily difficult for him to get to classes. He says differently-abled students have approached the administration multiple times with their plea for the past two years, but have only been given assurances.
AWAIS
"We demand disabled-friendly washrooms & parking lots and an increase in our quota seats from 1 to 3.
The university is charging hostel fees from differently-abled students which is against the law," says Awais.#InternationalDisabilityDay2021Our Story: https://t.co/l7Qr2JrOLm pic.twitter.com/kZjFsdRhWv
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) December 3, 2021
Sharjeel, a visually-impaired student, created the Inclusive Students Society (ISS) to not only organize events such as today’s protest but to also pressure an unwilling administration to facilitate PU’s differently-abled student body. He tells Voicepk.net that the administration has refused to endorse the ISS.
SHARJEEL
"We had planned a walk to celebrate the #InternationalDisabilityDay2021 but sadly we could not proceed with our plan because of the violent altercation b/w Jamiat & Punjab Council," says Sharjeel, President Inclusive Students' Society.
Our Story: https://t.co/l7Qr2JrOLm pic.twitter.com/CaB9iRcksu
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) December 3, 2021
Student allies also gathered at the protest site in solidarity. Haris, a member of the Progressive Students Collective, says that differently-abled students are marginalized on campuses everywhere and are treated as burdens, when he was of the view that by virtue of their disabilities they are stronger and learn to adapt far more quickly and effectively.
HARIS
"We are here to express solidarity with our differently-abled fellows because even if someone has one disability they still have other abilities," says Harris, a student activist from the @PSCollective_ #InternationalDisabilityDay2021
Our Story: https://t.co/l7Qr2JrOLm pic.twitter.com/HHJzzql4ds
— Voicepk.net (@voicepkdotnet) December 3, 2021
Protesters made known further demands, such as extra time during tests and examinations, waived hostel fees, increase in the quota for differently-abled students from one to at least three seats or more and ensure these seats are not given to undeserving people, and ensure lesson plans accommodate differently-abled students so they do not fall behind other students.