The number of beggars remained the same on Eidul Fitr and caused citizens inconvenience despite the police’s assurance that stern action will be taken against beggars who are spotted by the police, Pakistan Today has learnt. Beggars in large numbers were seen at markets, Eidgahs, mosques, recreational and residential areas. They were seen flocked outside Eidgahs waiting for people to get out after observing their prayers so they could demand Fitrana. Some beggars were witnessed begging during the Eidul Fitr prayer sermon. Beggars in large numbers were also seen at recreational areas, especially the Lahore Zoo, where people were gathered to celebrate Eid.
The number of beggars in the country is at a rise because of inflation and a dearth of employment opportunities. Despite the police’s efforts of keeping the city free of beggars, they were seen outside Data Darbar and the Upper Mall Mosque, which are high security areas. A 16-year-old student, Ali, who went to the Upper Mall Mosque for the Eid prayer, said that he was assaulted by a group of female beggars who injured his arm while snatching money from him. Law enforcement agencies needed to keep a check on female beggars as they were more aggressive and had more ways of extracting money from citizens, he added.
A resident of EME Society, Salman said that the most difficult task at Eid was to avoid beggars as they embarrass and manhandle one and that stern action needed to be taken against beggars who had made begging into a profession.
A resident of Model Town, Bashir Ahmed said that beggars were a cause of traffic accidents as they blocked the vehicles in the middle of busy roads and baffled the drivers.
The plague of beggary is a pressing concern for citizens and law enforcement agencies need to take stern action against the professional beggars who pester and jostle citizens for money and special institutions need to be set up by the government in order to incentivise beggars to quit begging and start earning money.
