February 8, 2026
Press Release
LAHORE
A focused discussion on disability rights and inclusion was held on the second day of the 6th Asma Jahangir Conference 2026, organized by the Asma Jahangir Legal Aid Cell (AGHS) with the support of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) and the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan (SCBAP). Session 15 titled “Nothing About Us Without Us: Counting the Differently-Abled” was moderated by lawyer and entrepreneur Ali Chughtai, and brought together United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Heba Hagrass, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Pakistan H. E. Ina Lepel, French lawyer and member of the Marseille Bar Association Olivier Mailloux, Pakistani lawyer and disability rights activist Sana Khurshid, and Vice-President of the Human Rights Cell of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPPHRC) Zulqernain Asghar.
The session focused on the gap between disability laws and their actual implementation, stressing that meaningful inclusion cannot happen without proper data, enforcement mechanisms, and the active participation of persons with disabilities in decisions that affect their lives.
Ms. Hagrass emphasized that disability rights must be implemented at the grassroots level to have real impact. She pointed out that while laws may exist, officials working at lower levels of government often lack the training, tools, and resources required to put those laws into practice. She stated that “Nothing about us without us’ is not a slogan for the disabled community, it is a legal standard,” and stressed that rights-based data and the presence of persons with disabilities in policy making are essential for any effective legislation.
Mr. Asghar highlighted the weak enforcement of disability laws in Pakistan. He noted that while disability is mentioned in political manifestos, legislation often fails to fully address existing gaps.
“The problem isn’t that disability is included in political manifestos, but that legislation only partially addresses the gaps,” he said. Referring specifically to Punjab, Mr. Asghar pointed out that implementation remains poor, even though similar laws have been passed in Islamabad and Balochistan. He also emphasized that disability is created by social and infrastructural barriers, stating that society itself disables people by failing to consider a significant portion of the population.
Lawyer Sana Khurshid said that she tried to improve accessibility for those who are disabled through the courts. Sharing her experience she said that she tried to get legislation passed on ensuring wheelchair ramps for the disabled through the courts, but discovered that there was a strong resistance from government departments to this simple demand. Her account highlighted the challenges faced by activists when institutions resist positive change, even when legal protections are in place.
From an international legal perspective, Mr. Mailloux stressed the importance of enforceable laws and accountability. He noted that without clear mechanisms for monitoring and enforcement, disability rights remain theoretical and fail to improve daily life for persons with disabilities.
H. E. Ms. Lepel spoke about equality and trust in institutions. She emphasized that laws alone are not enough and that society must believe in and commit to equality. She highlighted that equal rights also mean equal respect and shared responsibility, and that progress depends on cooperation across society.
Speaking on the integration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRDP) to enhance its global implementation, Ambassador Lepel stated that “Our goal is to support all state parties in realizing the rights of persons with disabilities to fully participate in society,” through two key practical commitments: make all development programs inclusive and accessible, and ensure at least 15% explicitly pursue disability inclusion.”
The session concluded with a strong call for governments, institutions, and society to move beyond symbolic commitments. Panelists agreed that disability inclusion requires reliable data, effective implementation, and the meaningful involvement of persons with disabilities without which true equality cannot be achieved.