PESHAWAR: Adil Khan, a resident of Charsadda district, has called upon well-off people to promote welfare of differently-abled persons through their generous donation to make them useful citizens.

“All the relevant authorities and rights activists should work together to encourage special persons for enabling them to share responsibilities,” Mr Khan, a differently-abled person and radio jockey, told this scribe.

He dwelt upon his career and told how perspective of society towards special persons needed to be changed to make them responsible and independent individuals.

He said that he received education only till 8th grade and then hit by muscular dystrophy (MD) when he was 12 years. The ailment totally paralysed him. He could talk only properly.

Adil Khan says perspective of society towards special persons needs to be changed

“Unfortunately, disability natural or otherwise has become a stigma in our society. This trend further negatively impacts persons with different abilities, it needs to be addressing forthwith,” he stressed.

Mr Khan said that since school was far away from his home, parents being poor were forced to let him survive, though provided him with everything including the best possible treatment and rehabilitation facility. However quoting doctors, he said, his illness had no curability and he had to live with it for life.

“I was left with lone option to listen to FM radios and it inspired me to the core and I thought I could make better use of my own voice ability. Also, I learnt a lot from private radio transmission and even I contacted one of my favourite RJ Mudassir Zaman, who invited me to host a show and it proved a launching pad for my career,” he narrated.

Mr Khan said that never in life he considered his disability an obstacle. “I feel proud to have been gifted by Almighty Allah with a wonderful voice quality, which many other normal individuals don’t have,” he said with a tinge of pride.

He formally joined a private FM radio in 2015 and soon he became social media sensation. It followed by starting work with Friends of Paraplegic a not-for-profit organisation working for the welfare of differently-able persons in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa .

Adil Khan is recipient of over 150 awards and commendation certificates for his incredible talent to motivate philanthropists to contribute to the cause of promoting welfare of differently-abled persons.

In the beginning, the radio host said he used to call himself Adil Mazoor (disabled) but then the advice by Afsar Afghan, a noted social media influencer, made him never call himself disabled rather term himself a talented voice artist gifted with a talent few people had.

“Through my voice talent I have large number of followers and fans and also my work with Friends Paraplegic as distinct coordinator. More than 800 people have been extended help across KP while a large number of them have been made to contribute to the society,” Mr Khan said.

Published in Dawn, November 25th, 2024