In-sync crackdown against beggary launched

Police to register FIRs against beggars posing as handicapped

LAHORE:

As Eidul Azha is approaching, City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) and Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CP&WB) have launched a crackdown against beggars on the roads of the provincial capital.

During the times of such a festivity, professional beggars become active. They target the places like sacrificial animal markets, mosques, markets in particular and signals, roundabouts in general to target the citizens to lure them for donations.

These places were usually being visited by relatively affluent or religious people.

Spokesperson CTPL Arif Rana said that with the arrival of Eid, the number of beggars on the roads of Lahore had increased exponentially.

Their presence in huge numbers would not only interrupt flow of traffic but would also cause nuisance for people due to their stubborn behaviour.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Mustansir Feroz has issued an order of crackdown against the professional beggars. In this regard, he has been issued instructions to divisional officers and circle officers.

CTO Mustansir Feroz said that he has asked divisional officers and circle officers to remove beggars from traffic signals especially from busy and important thoroughfares. He also sought cooperation from public.

He announced registration of FIRs against the beggars who would impersonate themselves as handicapped. “You hard earned money is not for fraudulent”, he added. “Beggars activities would not only interrupt flow of traffic but these also posed threats of accidents,” he said.

Traffic signals should be cleaned from the curse of beggary, he added. “Being poor is not a crime but posing yourself handicapped before others is a moral corrupt practice”, he added.

On the other hand, Child Protection and Welfare Bureau have also intensified its crackdown against children engaged in begging.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2023.