SHC tells traffic police to ensure no begging takes place on Karachi roads

The Sindh High Court on Wednesday directed the traffic police high-ups to ensure that no begging is allowed in Karachi by any person whatsoever whether they are males, females, children or transgender persons.

The direction came on a petition filed by Samira Mohammadi, who highlighted inaction on the part of the police and the district administration against transgender persons, who could be seen roaming around the streets and demanding money from passengers in vehicles at traffic signals and causing harassment to them.

The petitioner submitted that bagging otherwise is prohibited and treated as a criminal offence, while in case of transgender persons it amounts to extortion through use of force. She submitted that various incidents have been reported in the newspapers with regard to their hostile attitude and even committing crime. She said that it appears that they are operating under the umbrella of police and other officials, who do not take action against such unscrupulous elements who are seen at traffic signals on the main roads in groups, especially late at night.

She requested the court to direct the Karachi commissioner, the Sindh inspector general of police and the chairman of the National Database Registration Authority to implement the Supreme Court’s judgment for a hormone test for the determination of gender and to establish protection and special vocational training programmes for transgender persons to help them earn their livelihood.

The petitioner also requested the court to direct all relevant authorities to take stern action against begging by the transgender persons at traffic signals and other public places under Section 17 of the Transgender Act.

The SHC’s constitutional bench headed by Justice Mohammad Karim Khan Agha observed that main grievance of the petitioner is that certain transgender persons were begging at traffic signals and other places and causing nuisance and harassment to public at large

The court directed the traffic high-ups to ensure that no begging is allowed in the city by any person.