Cracking the whip: 73 arrested in crackdown against beggars

MULTAN: Authorities launched a massive crackdown against beggars in various cities of southern Punjab. The action was taken after orders to this effect were issued by the Multan regional police officer.

As many as 73 beggars were arrested. Twenty-six were taken into custody from Multan, 10 from Vehari, 29 from Khanewal and eight from Lodhran.

Multan RPO Sultan Azam Taimoori told The Express Tribune that a special task force was formed to arrest the beggars.

He said 73 cases against beggars were registered at various police stations in the southern cities.

He said the initiative was taken to eliminate the social evil from South Punjab. Begging, he said, had become a profitable business and many were going into it. He added there are various able-bodied beggars who simply wanted to make money without doing any work.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 17^th, 2016.