SWAT: The civil society members have demanded of the district administration to crack down on the growing number of professional beggars in Mingora and other areas of Swat district.

They also announced that they would launch an anti-beggary campaign.

“Wherever we go, dozens of beggars are there, who not only block our way but also irritate us. They are not poor or needy people and instead, they’re professional beggars, who have come to Swat from other parts of the country,” Mingora-based civil society activist Iqbal Hussain told Dawn.

Resident Amjad Ali said women and children were brought to the district for begging from different parts of the country, especially during the summer season.

Researcher Zahoor Ahmad said in Saidu Sharif that ‘local and national groups’ were involved in beggary as they shifted 50-100 beggars from Chakwal, Rahimyar Khan, Rajanpur, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Gujrat and other parts of Punjab to Swat in groups for three months.

Mingora businessman Imtiaz Ali said the non-local women beggars carried children, who were put to sleep by medication.

He said he informed the police, who took the woman away. Sajjad Ahmad, a shopkeeper in Swat Market, said many children came to the Mingora bazaar daily to beg.

He also claimed that women beggars were sexually harassed and molested by the people.

The residents called for the launch of a proper anti-beggars squad in Swat and said the police should arrest the groups behind beggary.

The Mingora police said they arrested around 50 professional beggars in April and were sent back to their areas in Punjab.

They said the beggars, including women, children and persons with disabilities, were also involved in criminal activities.

When contacted, district social welfare officer Nusrat Iqbal said a proper team had been established to arrest professional beggars, who were shifted to the Darul Kafala for rehabilitation and skill training. She also said non-local beggars were moved out of Swat.

Ms Iqbal said the crackdown on beggars would continue.

Published in Dawn, August 9th, 2021