A physically handicapped man asking for alms at a traffic signal in DHA. PHOTO: AYESHA MIR/EXPRESS
"We come here in the evening as that is when business picks up and say things like Allah kay naam par dey doh [give us money in the name of God]," Hasan said playfully, showing the seashells he had collected. He explained that they give the collected sums to their families to help with running the house.
With Eid around the corner, the number of beggars in the city has vastly increased. However, in DHA, residents and visitors have noted an abnormally large influx of beggars in the last month. Previously seen at major traffic signals and thoroughfares, beggars have now seeped into commercial areas and roadside eateries as well to make the most of the 'month of giving'.
"It's a nuisance. We can't visit shops on the streets or eat outside in peace," shared a university student, Bushra Shaikh. They [beggars] harass people, keep on crying, shouting and following people till we are forced into giving something, she added.
'Best job ever'
Coming from areas such as Neelum Colony, Shireen Jinnah Colony and parts of Gizri, DHA beggars target commercial areas which include Shahbaz, Tauheed, Bukhari, Badar and Zamzama.
"Begging is far better than any other job as it does not require hard work," said Ameer, who asks for alms at traffic signals and also sells tissue papers sometimes. He denied the existence of a 'grand beggar mafia' in DHA, saying there are small gangs who have control of specific areas.
An elderly woman, Reshma Bibi, is among 15 beggars who can usually be found begging at Badar Commercial. "Business is good," she said, adding that she makes more than Rs500 a day as people are keen to give charity in Ramazan.
In fact business is so good in Ramazan that people travel from faraway areas to Karachi to make the most of it. An elderly man from Sukkur, who did not want to give his name, sleeps at Abdullah Shah Ghazi and spends his day roaming around DHA, begging.
'Lal topi walay'
Complaining of harassment by the DHA vigilance teams, some beggars The Express Tribune spoke to alleged that the authority's security officials not only pick them up and leave them in faraway areas [around Do Darya in Phase-VIII] but also take their earnings made from begging.
"Lal topi waley gaari me bitha kar le jaatey hain," [the men wearing red caps take us away], said Sufyan, a beggar, while referring to the DHA vigilance guards.
Helpless authorities
Beggars are found to be involved in several crimes and also create traffic hazards, said Association of Defence Residents official Asad Kizilbash. "DHA seems more interested in getting rid of roadside vendors, who at least earn money through hard work than beggars," he added.
DHA Administrator Brig Zubair Ahmed admitted that the authority is helpless in taking any substantial action against beggars. "There are eight katchi abadis surrounding DHA and 44 entry-exit points," Ahmed told The Express Tribune.
According to him, DHA cannot register cases against beggars and can only round them up and drop them at Sohrab Goth. "But they keep coming back," he said, denying claims of vigilance teams being involved in harassing or taking money from beggars.
Meanwhile, an officer at the Darakshan police station denied that beggars are involved in any criminal activity in the area. He added that they [beggars] are innocent people, begging because they are poor.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2016.
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