Priorities: Police told to focus on beggars

ISLAMABAD: As the capital’s police grapples with two murders in as many days, Senior Superintendent of Police (Operations) Islamabad Sajid Kiani has directed all police officials to ensure an effective crackdown against professional beggars.

In his special directions to all SDPOs and SHOs issued on Saturday, the SSP Kiani said that professional alm-seeking is a social evil and all efforts should be made to curb it.

He directed for vigilance against such elements at the markets, avenues and signals. The official further directed all SHOs to book these professional beggars after arresting them.

The SSP said that mischievous elements wander in the city in the guise of beggars and strict action is needed to curb such activities.

Following his directions, a police spokesman said that Islamabad Police have started taking action against beggars. In this regard, the official said that Islamabad Police had arrested 34 professional beggars in just the past 24 hours while a search operation has been conducted in various areas of the capital in which 125 suspects and two proclaimed offenders were arrested.

Similarly, police started checking of vehicles during snap checking and had impounded 360 bikes and nine vehicles which were being driven without proper documents during this time.

SSP Kiani said that the purpose of this search operation is to ensure high vigilance in the city and every effort will be made to ensure protection to the lives and property of citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2016.