PESHAWAR, May 13: Beggars have swarmed the Peshawar University campus, making it difficult for the university authorities to provide a conducive atmosphere to the students.

On the main gate of the campus, opposite the Khyber Teaching Hospital on the Jamrud Road, a large number of beggars, both male and female, can be seen occupying the footpath along the main road close the university administration block.

A final year student of the Khyber Law College, Naeem Khan Wardag, told Dawn that a disabled beggar, who comes to the university on a three-wheeler every morning, parks his vehicle beside the stairs near the Provost’s office and remains there till evening.

“They followed a strict schedule while running their businesses, as they change their spots after every few hours,” Naeem said.

When opinion of the university Provost was sought about the presence of beggars in front of his office, he said that he had reported the matter to the security officers several times. The security personnel removed them but they come again, he said.

“Many of them are Afghan children. Their age debars them from any legal action,” said the provost.

The new building block of the social sciences departments was another place frequented by the beggars. They frequently made their entrance into classrooms and offices of the faculty members. A teacher at the Department of International Relations, Hussain Suhrawardy said that students were also to blame for the situation as they encouraged them.

“These beggars have understood the psyche of the students. They deceive students with their words of prayers, exposure and in several instances with the medical slips they carry. I did not blame the beggars but the fault lies with the students and the administration. The former because they encouraged them, and the later for not taking any action,” he added.

The Super Market at the back of the Hostel No. 1 was another place where beggars display their skills. Students could always be found here, therefore, beggars too make their appearance. Here beggars convert coins into currency notes, said a student of Economics Department. An old beggar, who is usually present in the Super Market, regularly changes coins worth more than Rs500, some students revealed.

When contacted, the university registrar Ajmal Khan said that the administration knew of this menace and the campus security personnel had been directed to take action against beggars.