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ACT II OF 2017 ACT II OF 2017 BALOCHISTAN PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2017 An Act to promote and ensure full and effective inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the community in line with the Islamic teachings and international best practices to protect their rights [Gazette of Balochistan Extraordinary, 8th June, 2017] No. PAB/Legis:v(02)/2017, dated 8.6.2017.---The Balochistan Persons with Disabilities Bill (Bill No.02 of 2017) having been passed by the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan on 20th May, 2017 and assented to by the Governor, Balochistan on 07th June, 2017 is hereby published as an Act of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly. Preamble.---WHEREAS it is expedient to put in place legal and institutional framework to protect the rights of the Persons with Disabilities: It is hereby enacted as follows:- CHAPTER II RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 16. Right of political participation.---(1) Persons with Disabilities shall have full right to participate in the political activities in the country including exercising right of vote and right to be elected in an elected body. (2) Representation of Persons with Disabilities shall be ensured by the government in all the elected bodies through special quota. (3) The government shall make necessary arrangements to ensure that voice of the Persons with Disabilities is effectively heard in the elected houses at various levels. (4) The Election Commission of Pakistan shall ensure that each polling station is accessible to the Persons with Disabilities and necessary arrangements are made for them to cast their votes confidentially and without any difficulty. Any act by any person to cause hindrance on exercise of right to vote, by a person with disability shall be deemed as forceful obstruction that shall be adjudicated under the law by the Presiding Officer as an offence. The Commission shall ensure that effect of such forceful obstruction is rectified. (5) The participation of disable persons as provided by the Notifications issued by the Federal/provincial government from time to time shall also apply to all the political parties.