Beggars swarm Attock markets

Officials fail to implement laws against professional beggary

ATTOCK:

As Eidul Azha draws nearer, hordes of beggars have flocked the markets, shopping malls, traffic signals and streets in district attock.

The beggars, mostly women and children, are being witnessed at commercial places, including Pindi Gheb, Jand, Fatehjang, Hazro and Attock City bazaars and Markets.

The women, mostly carrying babies, are seen sitting at pedestrian bridges, centres of markets and bus stops. They also show ‘medical reports or prescriptions’ to passengers at bus stops, outside medical stores and hospitals, asking them to help them in getting treatment.

The beggars cause inconvenience to pedestrians and people visiting bazaars for shopping. On the other hand, the local administration and police have not chalked out a strategy to deal with the influx of professional beggars.

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“Beggars’ forceful tactics sometimes create nuisance for the citizens who feel attacked by their offensive behaviour,” said Raza, an office-bearer of the local traders association.

“The interruptions by beggars become unbearable while shopping in the market,” said Arshad.

“Beggars have made the lives of citizens miserable as they chase them and force them into giving them money,” said Majid, adding their number increases near morning when people throng bazaars for buying fruits and other foodstuffs. The citizens have demanded that the local administration should take effective steps discourage this practice.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2020.