A Critical Study of the Disability Models prevailing in Pakistani Legislation
Keywords:
Disability, PWDs, Human Rights Model, Social Model, Medical Model, UNCRPD, Equality, Social InclusionAbstract
Disability is increasingly recognized as a central concern of human rights law, yet in Pakistan its legal treatment has historically been shaped by welfare and medical perspectives. The medical model, dominant in earlier legislation such as Disabled Persons (Employment and Rehabilitation) Ordinance 1981 visualises PWDs as persons needing charity, rehabilitation, or healthcare rather than being entitled to rights or protections under the law. The social model advanced inclusion by identifying societal barriers remained limited in providing enforceable legal protections. This article critically examines these competing approaches and evaluates the suitability of the human-rights model within Pakistan’s contemporary legal framework. The study adopts a doctrinal and comparative approach, drawing on disability rights theory and international human rights law to evaluate how disability has been conceptualized and the extent to which national practices reflect international standards, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). The analysis demonstrates that while elements of both the medical and social models remain visible, they fail to address the deeper challenges of accountability, implementation, and recognition of PWDs as rights-holders. The article concludes that the human-rights model provides the most comprehensive and sustainable framework, as it guarantees civil, political, social, and economic rights while securing dignity, equality, and autonomy, and offers enforceable entitlements essential for advancing inclusive development in Pakistan.
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