Beggars a nuisance for twin cities dwellers

Islamabad:The professional beggars, though proliferating in all mega-urban centres across the country, have particularly thronged the busy thoroughfares of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The twin cities residents have expressed concerns over negligence of the quarters concerned to tighten the noose against professional tramps irking masses and robbing the right of deserving masses unable to extend their hands before people for alms.

Azma Pasha told this agency that begging has become a formal profession as whole families of beggars have adopted this profession and hoodwinking masses as pretending to be marginalized and impoverished beings of the society.

She added that they at times were also creating immense disturbance in the life of common man, they have occupied almost all the public spots and do not let people leave without giving alms to them. Akram Sai, a school teacher said the professional beggars from rural areas and small cities had moved to the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, had awash markets, malls, streets, and even the main doors of the mosques, they used different tactics to gain the sympathy of innocent citizens. “The most common is holding an infant or young probably below 7-year age child partially unconscious condition disguising as a special child. At times these women weep so loudly and ghastly as showing that something very tragic has happened to befool common masses,” he added.

Hamad Ahmad, a shopkeeper, said everyday rise in the number of beggars was not only bothersome for the customer or visitors rather equally denting the business of shopkeepers. “We promote this begging mafia by giving away alms to these professional beggars,” he regretted.

Fatima Akmal, a housewife, said during the whole month of Ramadan professional beggars started begging early morning and do not let the people sleep till night. Mostly women beggars caring for their child rang the doorbells and asked for fitrana, charity, zakat and food, she said, adding, “We cannot give them as per their desire, in return, they showed anger and exchanged harsh words.” She requested the concerned authority to take a stern action against this mafia.

Muhammad Musa, a student of 8th class, while showing anger on the beggars said they do not even forgive the students at bus stops and keep on asking for alms till the arrival of the bus. He said, "We are fed up with this mafia as sometimes we ran away after seeing them as we know they will start nagging us by using the oldest phrase, “God will not let you pass your exams if you won’t help use and take away what we had in our pocket money.”