As the holy month of Ramzan started, the beggars occupied roads of the twin cities.
Whether you go to some restaurant, in markets or bazaars, you would be surrounded by beggars of all ages – from old to children and from women to infants, asking for money.
Sometimes, it becomes irritating as beggars do not allow you to eat or drink. As you start eating, the beggars in hoards would surround you, asking for mercy. Once you pay one beggar, many would come around you as the successful one informs the comrades.
Begging is a social curse but it has become a roaring business in Pakistan as people of different age and gender can be seen seeking alms at every knock and corner of the country.
Every year in Ramzan, an alarming upsurge in the number of beggars surface in every market, public places, the city roads and streets, trying every trick they know to get the sympathies of people, causing great nuisance for the dwellers of the federal capital.
Begging has turned into a profession not only for the poor, disabled or injured people but is being adopted as a choice by many as it is free and has no restrictions in Pakistan. The beggars are using disguising tricks to emotionally exploit the public to fleece money.
Islam clearly denounces the menace of begging. In this context, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) loathed the culture of begging and introduced the system of Zakat to help the needy with respect and honour. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) also said that on the Day of Judgment, the (professional) beggar will not have flesh on his face. Despite this, the beggars are being encouraged by the public and government in one or the other way in most of the Islamic countries, especially in Pakistan.
Bashir Khan, a student of a private college, while talking to Pakistan Today said, “It is quite unfortunate that begging is fast turning into a thriving business in Pakistan, but those in power are a little bothered about it despite the prevailing precarious security situation in the country.”
He said that the militants can use the symptomatic disguise of beggars; hence, there is a need to control the increasing numbers of beggars in the country.
Noor Aslam Abbasi, a shopkeeper in Bharakhu, said that begging is a booming business as the police and administration seem reluctant to take any action against them. The beggars have made the life of people miserable as they are often seen knocking at the doors in the morning, he said.
He said that since the inception of the holy month of Ramzan, groups of beggars mostly women, children and even a good number of eunuchs are seen begging in markets, roads and streets, which annoys the people as they leave a person with no choice but to dole out a coin or to flee from the scene.
Shahid Anwar, an employ in a private company, regretted that being a Muslim, the beggars use the newest tricks to convince people to give alms instead of seeking help from Allah Almighty.
He said that the uncontrolled situation of beggars is reflective of the weak administration and less powers of police to arrest them, adding that the authorities concerned are unable to arrest the beggars that create a disturbing atmosphere for those shopping in the markets.
A police official, performing duty on the road in a busy market, told this scribe that they can tackle the menace of begging with ease and they only need directives from their high ups to carry out a crackdown against them. He said that it is true the beggars enjoy strong backing; however the government can eradicate the bane if it really wants to do so.
The government’s seriousness can be observed from the fact that the National Child Protection Centre (NCPC), serving the big cause of protecting children in distress, failed to get funds for the construction of National Child Protection Complex in the federal budget 2016-17.
Currently, the NCPC is located in the upper portion of a hostel of the former Ministry of Social Welfare and Special Education. The portion has total 20 rooms. Among them, 18 rooms are in use of NCPC whereas two rooms are in the possession of National Special Education Centre for Hearing Impaired Children. The office, shelter and learning centre of NCPC, all function in those 18 small rooms. Currently, the NCPC is providing services of temporary shelter, non-formal education, reunification, vocational training, community awareness, child protection committees, trainings and helpline.
Answering a question raised by his party colleague Nighat Parveen Mir, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan once claimed to have initiated steps to control beggary in Islamabad. The minister in writing informed the lower house of parliament about the steps which his Ministry has taken to keep the beggars off the roads in Islamabad.
Led by the Islamabad police, the move has been initiated under Vagrancy Act to keep “the capital city free from this curse,” Nisar explained. He said two anti-beggary squads have been established to apprehend beggars. Divided in two parts, the city is regularly monitored to check beggars but the ground situation speaks otherwise as the profession flourish instead.
However, people are of the view that unless we make an effort to include them in our society, they will resort to begging. They need to be introduced into educational systems to be able to make their own choice.
They said that if the government and non-governmental organisations would not perform their responsibilities in this regard, they (the citizens) would alone play their part to eradicate this ‘new profession’.