Cosmopolitan Club Pick-And-Drop Service For The Disabled Ordered
The Lahore High Court has directed the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to ensure pick-and-drop facility for disabled visitors to the Cosmopolitan Club at Bagh-i-Jinnah from the main entrance of the park to the club.
Justice Shahid Karim passed this order on a petition filed by a club member, who had to use a wheelchair to travel from the parking to the club entrance.
Advocate Sheraz Zaka argued on behalf of the petitioner and pointed out that parliamentarians were allowed to take their vehicles to the last entrance of the Cosmopolitan Club. Whereas, he said, there was no pick-and-drop facility for the disabled and they were not allowed to enter the park and club in their cars.
He said the petitioner and other disabled members of the club parked their cars in the parking lot far from the club and reached the club on wheelchairs or some other kind of support.
The counsel said the petitioner could not walk as he had undergone three spinal surgeries. He said law regarding disabled persons existed but needed to be implemented.
Counsel for the PHA argued if the petition was allowed the government would have to provide the required facility in all parks.
Justice Karim did not buy the argument and said if parliamentarians could enjoy the facility, why not the disabled persons.
The judge directed the PHA to provide pick-and-drop facility permanently for disabled persons keeping into consideration Article 9 of the Constitution.
The judge sought a compliance report by April 13.
This news was previously published in DAWN and it is being republished here with permission.
